264 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 18S 



CEOSS-CULTtrBAL RELATIONS : ACCESS 



As a result of its integration into the life of the community Shonto 

 Trading Post has more, and more frequent, contact with its Navaho 

 neighbors than has any other White institution. Its contact and in- 

 fluence reach all age groups, all interest groups, and both sexes. 



CKOSS-CXTLTUEAL RELATIONS: ROLE 



The foundation of the trading post's position of paramount influence 

 in Shonto community is undoubtedly to be found among the factors of 

 role. The store is the only contact institution upon which Navahos 

 are almost totally dependent for their livelihood ; and is, at the same 

 time, equally dependent on them on the same terms. There is thus 

 established a condition of interdependence which is lacking in 

 all other contacts, and which has important effects on the trader's 

 social accessibility and communicative role. 



CROSS-CULTURAL RELATIONS : COMMUNICATION 



Shonto Trading Post has a unique capacity to communicate with 

 the Navaho community by contrast to other White institutions, not 

 only because of its high frequency of contact, but also because of its 

 personal relations with the clientele, its high social accessibility and 

 potential privacy, and above all its use of what passes for the Navaho 

 language in communication. 



These are the sources of Shonto Trading Post's cross-cultural in- 

 fluence. They are causes, not effects, and therefore cannot serve to 

 measure influence as felt by the community. They can and do allow 

 the conclusion that Shonto Trading Post, far above and beyond any 

 other contact institution, has an important power either to induce or to 

 prevent changes in the attitudes and behavior of Navaho individuals in 

 Shonto community over a period of days, months, or years. 



THE HISTORICAL MEASUEE OF INFLUENCE 



Cross-cultural influence can be estimated in terms of significant con- 

 tributing factors, as was done above. It cannot actually be measured, 

 however, except through cross-cultural effects. In other words, in the 

 final analysis it can only be tested historically, in terms of culture 

 change or adaptation. In a synchronic analysis such as the one under- 

 taken here, no such measurement is possible. Nevertheless a sort of 

 rough check on the comparative influence of different contact institu- 

 tions may be obtained by examining each in the light of the general 

 pattern of Navaho- Wliite cultural adjustment in its field of special 

 interest or activity. 



In "Navaho Life" (pp. 53-94) modern Navaho life at Shonto was 

 described in terms of a discrete series of adjustments to Wliite cul- 

 tural influences in different areas of culture. It was suggested that 



