Not sure what you mean about equal opportunity niche. If you mean that medicine men are available for everyone, that's hard to say. There's often a language barrier involved and even getting into contact with one.

If you are referring to medicine men and who they train, that's a different matter altogether. I haven't heard of anyone outside of the tribe being trained as a full medicine man. What has traditionally been done is training begins at a very young age (can be as early as 3). I seem to kind of recall that somebody out here said that some medicine men are opening their doors, so to speak, to any Navajo that wishes to learn. I can't remember where I heard it though so it could be my memory playing tricks on me.

Not sure if I answered your question in either case. If I didn't, let me know.

Stephanie

In every man there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil.--Ralph Waldo Emerson