The highest temperatures of this record-breaking summer may be hitting us here in the Valley of the Sun, but, the whole state is feeling the effects of extreme heat this year — including the Navajo Nation. 

Now officials on the reservation have declared a state of emergency because of the heat, allowing the Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management to seek federal or state assistance to address the problem. 

There, it’s not just about health, but agriculture and livestock, and, with tens of thousands of households there living without electricity, the heat can be dangerous. 

The Show spoke with Shondiin Silversmith, who covers indigenous issues for the Arizona Mirror, about what's happening on the Navajo Nation.

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