1996: Tuba City, Dinosaur Tracks, & Locals

      We finally got to Tuba City, which was a wind-strewn place.  We eventually found the Grey Hills Inn, that we had been told about.  It was tucked on behind the high school.  The motel was a bit strange, very hard to find, but the room was nice, except that it had no bathroom.   All the rooms shared the same large men’s and women’s washrooms that were located in the middle of the building.  Our room only cost us $30.

    After getting the room we went exploring Tuba City and found the Tuba City Trading Post.  The lady that worked there was very knowledgeable about Navaho Rugs.  She explained that the swastika on rugs was called “whirling logs” and was part of the creation story.  She told me that my rug with the whirling logs was the oldest and most valuable one that I had.  Listening to her left me feeling a whole lot better, after all of the misinformation, I had been given at the other trading posts.  I found the photo above online, and It is how I remember it.

    After the trading post we went off to check out the dinosaur footprints that had been signed on the highway.  We got to the turnoff and drove up to a small dilapidated shelter, where two Native men were sitting.  I worried that it was going to be one of those places where you had to pay a guide to see the attraction.  

    One of the guys approached the car.  He seemed stoned and introduced himself as “David”.   I told him I was David too.  David seemed really out of it, repeating several times that he was David.  About four times he introduced his brother Morris.   He did finally lead us around and showed us some of the dinosaur tracks.  While Joan looked around at the dinosaur tracks, David was my best friend.  He kept saying things in the Navaho language, then asking me if I knew what that meant.  Of course, I didn’t, so he would tell me, then say something else in Navaho and again ask me if I knew what that meant, on and on.

    David then invited me up to do a sweat lodge, and then said later we could go to a Peyote ceremony that night.  I made up an excuse and told him unfortunately we couldn’t because we had to get back to Tuba City.   After seeing the dinosaur tracks I paid David four dollars for the tour.  He then asked if we could take him, Morris, and another brother who was sleeping under a table, up to his house.  I told him sure, and drove them up a bumpy, dusty, road to their house.   He made me write down his name and address before we left.

    We drove back to Tuba City, ate at the Taco Bell, then retired to our motel room behind the high school.   That next morning while we were getting dressed, a noise started coming from the hallway.  I thought it was some kind of machine or something.  It continued for a long time, then a knock came at our door.   A lady was there who told us the noise was a fire alarm, and we had to go outside, which we did.  After a while it was soon over and we were allowed to go back to our room.

You can look at my paintings at:  davidmarchant2.ca