Johnston] 



NAVAHO POPULATION 



109 



The enumerators in the Fifteenth Census were instructed to return as In- 

 dians, not only those of full Indian blood, but also those of mixed white and 

 Indian blood, "except where the percentage of Indian blood is very small," or 

 where the individual was "regarded as a white person in the community where 

 he lives." The published instructions further specify that : "A i^erson of mixed 

 Indian and Negro blood should be returned as a Negro unless the Indian blood 

 predominates and the status as an Indian is generally accepted in the com- 

 munity." Supplementaiy instructions in regard to the Indian enumeration also 

 contained the following provision : "In New Mexico, Arizona, and California, 

 enumerators should take special care to differentiate between Mexican laborers 

 and Indians. Some Mexican laborers may endeavor to pass themselves as 

 Indians. Persons residing in the region should have no difficulty in differentiat- 

 ing between the two types." [Bureau of the Census, 1937, p. 1.1 



These instructions explicitly refer to a fundamental problem with 

 respect to the enumeration of any ethnic group — the fact that member- 

 ship in such group is not objectively determinable in marginal cases, so 

 that the resultant figures reflect, and may possibly be distorted by, the 

 attitudes and impressions of the individual enumerators. 



The number of Navahos enumerated in the 1930 census, together 

 with the figures reported by the Navajo Agency for neighboring 

 years, are shown in table 24. 



Table 24. — Reported Navaho population, by sex and State of residence — 1926-35 



> Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1927, tables 1 and 2. 



2 Bureau of the Census, 1937, tables 9 and 21. 



3 U.S. Department of the Interior, 1931, table 2. The figures include six persons whose sex was not re- 

 ported: Four in Arizona and two in New Mexico. These persons were divided equally between the sexes 

 in each State. 



* Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1936, appendix table 2. This table gives the population as of Jan. 1, 1935. 

 « Data not available. 



6 Navahos residing in Utah were included with those reported in Arizona. Navahos residing in other 

 States were not reported at this time. 



