When the Chief Diner closed in 1980, Jackson Clark, Antonia’s father, purchased the sign, in part to keep it from being destroyed. Far from being in any way a racist, Clark was one of, if not the greatest, of the supporters of Native Americans, not just in the San Juan Basin, but throughout the Four Corners.
As a young man,I worked in close proximity to Clark over a period of several years. I also came to know him for starting Toh-Atin as a means to preserve and celebrate Native American culture. As Toh-Atin is still in business, I would say that Clark`s offspring have carried on his values.
Rather than a sign of racism, the “chief” sign stands as a symbol of people from different cultures each having a hand in raising Native American painted, woven, sculptured, etc., work from the category of trinkets to being legitimate fine art.
David Watkins Redington Shores, Florida
