Taking Over
30 years later, Shiprock still bears scars of AIM standoff

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

SHIPROCK — It was an event that Duane "Chili" Yazzie wished never would have happened.

Though he is an activist and was on the outside of the group, Yazzie has seen the changes that one decision has since brought upon Shiprock.

"I remember it well," said Yazzie. "It was a fiasco from the start. I don't think I would have done anything like that if it were my decision."

Even after 30 years, it's still used as a reason not to come to Shiprock by perspective businesses and the memory of the Fairchild Semiconductors building takeover by the American Indian Movement (AIM) is still fresh in the memory of long-time Shiprock citizens.

The takeover took place on Feb. 24, 1975 at 1 a.m. when 30 AIM members took control of the Fairchild building with guns and had even placed armed members on the roof of the building.

Use of armed force to take over the building stemmed from accusations of low pay, sexual harassment and the lack of high-paying positions being given to Navajos.

"What we saw in the 1970's was AIM going into a lot of areas that contained a large Navajo population," said Dr. Kelly Robison, assistant professor of history at San Juan College. "They were there pushing with local residents for the redress of grievances."

Additionally, there were complaints from a large group of former employees that had lost their jobs in the previous week. At the time there had been a 20-percent reduction in the company's work force, meaning that 140 workers had been let go.

Fairchild, a company that specialized in electronics, had been cutting back gradually to prepare for a move outside of Shiprock, said Yazzie.

"We understood that the company was planning to relocate by the end of the year," said Yazzie. "The takeover by AIM expedited that move."

Upon taking over the building, AIM's leaders demanded that the leadership of the Navajo government and the management of Fairchild discuss making changes for their desired working environment and even demanded that the recently terminated 140 workers be re-employed or be found suitable jobs.

Plant leaders pointed to the 475 workers that were still employed and added that the demands of the group were unreasonable.

As the takeover wound down and the sides discussed, tribe leaders were hopeful of a peaceful resolution that would include workers getting back into the building.

By Saturday the standoff was finished and AIM members had returned the building to Fairchild and the local authorities. Fairchild estimated the damage cost to the building to be close to $100,000.

Damages included heavy damage to the Fairchild cafeteria, missing payroll checks, broken desks and doors and computers and printers that were ruined during the week long takeover.

Following the takeover, Fairchild decided to discontinue its Shiprock operations; a move that then-Navajo Tribal chairman Peter MacDonald said left the area in an "unfortunate position."

To keep takeovers from happening in the future, MacDonald promised to seek more federal funding to increase the number of Navajo tribal policemen and even offered to improve the security systems at the Fairchild plant.

But the decision was final by Fairchild and the effects lingered in Shiprock for decades.

"For many years we had companies making reference to this situation when they considered coming to Shiprock," said Yazzie. "It's had a lasting negative impact. It always lingers here but I think the community and the Navajo Nation presenting itself as business friendly mitigates that negative impact."

Despite the passage of time and the 30-year anniversary of the takeover, Yazzie doesn't view this anniversary as one worthy of celebration.

"I think people, for the most part, would prefer that it didn't happen," he said. "It's not a cause for celebration.

— Brian Hassler is The Independent's Four Corners reporter based in Shiprock. He can be contacted at (505) 360-7862 or at brianhassler@hotmail.com.