Navajo Name: Tse' bi t'ai (Rock's Wings)

Shiprock Chapter

Shiprock is the largest Navajo community in the Navajo Nation. The community of Shiprock is located 28 miles west of Farmington on U.S. 64.

The Shiprock Chapter conducts Monthly meetings to keep Residents informed; residents have a forum to express their opinions to their Chapter Officers and Navajo Nation Council Delegates or to decide on matters concerning their chapter.

Upcoming Community Meetings:
  • May 04, 2008 - 12 noon - Information Meeting
  • May 18, 2008 - 12 noon - Business Meeting
The Shiprock pinnacle rises nearly 1,700 feet above the surrounding plain. There are numerous Navajo legends about the rock formation. One is that a phantom ship once brought the Navajo people away from warring neighbors of the far north, saving them from annihilation. More popular is that giant birds used the rock for habitation, nesting their young. These monster birds fed on humans. When Dineh humans were scarce, they would feed on the Zuni People. It eventually lead the Dineh became desperate. The Warrior Twins were summoned to rid these birds of existence. With a workable strategy and clever disguise, the twins managed to get into the nesting area. First they killed the young birds and waited for the parents to return. In due time, followed by dark clouds, they arrived, plunging another human into the nest. They discovered their young ones had been killed. They started a fierce, relentless search for the killers. The twins called up to them and forewarned them that their era of terror was over; one of the twins shot a lightening bolt from his bow to the other. Humans were once again free to roam.

The soft volcanic rock makes up the awesome monolith, making it a dangerous challenge to climb; however, the California Sierra Club scaled it successfully in 1939. Shiprock has been closed to public access for climbing since 1970.

"Servicing the Governmental Needs of the Shiprock Chapter Residents."

Chapter Officials:

Duane H. Yazzie
President

Donald Benally
Vice-President

Hazel Dayish
Secretary/Treasurer

Leonard Anthony
Council Delegate

Pete Ken Atcitty
Council Delegate

GloJean Todacheene
Council Delegate

Larry L. Jack
Agency Farm Board Member

Robert Hayes
Grazing Committee Representative

Peter Deswood Jr.
Community Service Coordinator

Jessica Hayes
Office Specialist

Navajo Nation Government Link ---> www.navajo.org

Design and Engineer Services Link ---> http://nndes.org

Capital Improvement Office Link ---> http://nncio.org

Tse' Bit'a'i'
"The Winged Rock"
Shiprock

Contact Information: Pete Deswood, Community Services Coordinator
Shiprock Chapter
Address: P.O. Box 3810, Shiprock, New Mexico 87420
Phone: (505)368-1081
Fax : (505)368-1092
E-mail Address: shiprock@navajochapters.org

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