Book

To run after them: cultural and social bases of cooperation in a Navajo community

University of Arizona Press • Tucson • Published In 1977 • Pages:

By: Lamphere, Louise.

Abstract

This is a study of kinship and cooperation in a modern Navajo community. The book covers native concepts of cooperation and autonomy, reviews the literature and data on domestic organization with an emphasis on methodological difficulties, and then focuses on patterns in cooperative activities. Activities highlighted are sheep herding, agriculture, transportation, and ceremonial participation. Data are supplemented with case studies. The researcher also advances a model of reciprocity based on maintaining systematic ambiguity and flexible cooperative units. Conclusions attempt to resolve the apparent ambiguity of cooperative and autonomy values in Navajo society. Excellent ethnographic data can be found for all subjects covered and the review of domestic group literature is particularly helpful. Poor organization sometimes obscures the relationship between variables.

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

North America

Sub Region

Southwest and Basin

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Richard A. Wagner ; John Beierle ; 1985

Field Date

1965-1966

Coverage Date

1963-1966

Coverage Place

Two Gray Hills area, New Mexico, United States

Notes

Louise Lamphere

Includes bibliographical references (p. 211-218) and index

LCCN

75008455

LCSH

Navajo Indians