“Ethno-Janus”: Utilizing Cultural Heritage to Plan for Future Employment

Abstract

The suddenly fashionable ethnic-heritage studies may in fact misfit a cultural group's present and future. They glorify a past that is probably no longer viable. But in a practical approach, only such heritage should be selected as may be relevant to the predictable future. In this connection, Gause's Principle suggests advantage in specialization rather than in imitation and emulation of dominant culture neighbors. Hence occupational need forecasting should be sought, and the portions likely to be filled by the dominant culture subtracted. Vocations and job elements conducive to an ethnicity's traditional strengths, such as mechanical handicrafts, are then to be induced. The target group's legends and history may then be reinterpreted toward those viable goals. The author describes this kind of approach and its application in an experiment with Navajo reservation school children.