The Kaibab Paiute Reservation straddles the Arizona-Utah border. Thunder Mountain towers over the community. Photo from Facebook

The Kaibab Paiute Tribe has earned a designation as the first "dark sky nation" in the world

The tribe has established quality outdoor lighting policy and rehabilitated existing lighting on its reservation, becoming the first sovereign in the world to embrace dark-skies principles. The designation was announced by the International Dark-Sky Association.

"The Kaibab Paiute reservation is meant to be preserved as our cultural homeland for its natural resources and untouched qualities,” Chairman Roland Maldonado said in a press release. “We acknowledge the immense value dark skies bring to our traditions, conservation of wildlife, and to future generations.”

The reservation, located on the Arizona-Utah border, will be known as the "Thunder Mountain Pootsee Nightsky." The name recognizes the importance of Thunder Mountain in tribal history and culture.

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Kaibab Paiute reservation named dark sky community (AP 4/23)