Living in a Time Warp: Navigating Daylight Saving Time on the Navajo Nation
Tuba City, a small town located in Arizona, is home to Melissa Blackhair and her family. However, unlike the rest of Arizona, Tuba City follows daylight saving time. This unique situation is due to the fact that Tuba City is situated within the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the United States. While the rest of Arizona and the neighboring Hopi reservation remain on standard time, the Navajo Nation resets their clocks one hour later from March through November.
This time difference creates a mind-bending situation for those living on the Arizona portion of the Navajo Nation. Reva Hoover, manager of a supermarket in Tuba City, acknowledges that the time change can be chaotic for employees who live on both reservations. Tourists visiting the Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites on the Hopi side may also be unaware of the time difference, leading to confusion when visiting local businesses.
Deannethea Long, the general manager of the hotel, agrees that it can be confusing for guests. The hotel has taken measures to alleviate some of this confusion by having one wall clock per time zone in the lobby. However, Kimberly Humetewa, a resident of the Hopi side, finds the time change particularly challenging for her children, who attend school and other events on the Navajo side. They have to wake up earlier and constantly calculate the time for various activities.
Most essential services, such as post offices and grocery stores, are located on the Navajo side, where daylight saving time is observed. This means that residents like Humetewa have to adapt to the time change in order to access these services. Melissa Blackhair, a graphic artist who lives on the Navajo side but has family on the Hopi side, faces similar challenges. She often advises clients to specify the time zone of events on invitations and has to ensure she is not late for medical appointments in Flagstaff, which is not on either reservation.
The time difference not only affects daily routines but also social interactions. Blackhair mentions that the time warp has contributed to a sense of anti-socialness, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Without clear indications of the time zone for events, she prefers to stay home. Despite the challenges, Blackhair appreciates the uniqueness of the situation and acknowledges that it sparks interesting conversations with others.
The alternating time zones are further complicated by a pocket in the southern end of the Hopi reservation that falls within the Navajo Nation. This configuration is a result of a long-standing land dispute between the two tribes. Residents and tourists traveling through this area may find themselves crossing time zones multiple times. While the proximity of the Navajo and Hopi reservations makes it difficult to avoid association, there is often a sense of tension between the two tribes.
Carroll Onsae, president and general manager of Hopi Telecommunications, acknowledges that the time difference can be frustrating for Navajo customers who have to wait longer to report outages when the provider is not yet open. However, he also mentions that an hour difference is not a significant inconvenience. Despite this, some Hopi individuals who work on the Navajo Nation are not keen on the situation, as they are essentially forced to practice daylight saving time for part of the year.
There have been discussions about the Navajo Nation doing away with daylight saving time, but nothing has materialized thus far. Melissa Blackhair expresses her support for this change, stating that moving away from daylight saving time is inevitable in this day and age. Overall, living in a time warp presents its challenges, but it also adds a unique aspect to life on the Navajo Nation and Hopi reservation.
In conclusion, navigating daylight saving time on the Navajo Nation is no simple task. The time difference between the Navajo Nation, the Hopi reservation, and the rest of Arizona creates confusion and inconveniences for residents, tourists, and businesses. Despite these challenges, individuals like Melissa Blackhair appreciate the uniqueness of the situation and believe that moving away from daylight saving time is necessary. The time warp on the Navajo Nation and Hopi reservation is a constant reminder of the complex relationship between these two tribes and the historical land disputes that have shaped their boundaries.
