People of the Legends
Indigenous People of North America - Navajo
Culture and Customs - Origins
Tell me more about Origins and Creation
Navajo stories describe how their world and people came to be. There are different versions, but all talk about a journey through different worlds to reach the Navajo world of today. Some stories say today’s world was the fifth, but most say today’s world was the fourth world.
First World - the Black World
The First World may have looked like parts of Alaska. It was small, flat, dark and cold – a misty island floating in water.
The only thing growing there was a pine tree. Shapes like fuzzy people moved in the mist.
On this island, three Holy People came into being - First Man, First Woman and Coyote. Then there were insects including wasps, ants, beetles, and two more Holy People - Spider Man and Spider Woman. Soon the island was crowded and everyone was unhappy and angry.
Second World - the Blue-green World
First Man, First Woman and Coyote found an opening and climbed from the damp Black World into the Second World. Everyone else followed them.
There were rocks and landmarks and it looked like central Canada. There were several types of blue birds and other blue-feathered beings already living there.
There were also some swallow people, who were not happy to see the new arrivals. Again there was anger and fighting.
Third World - the Yellow World
First Man, First Woman and Coyote climbed from the Blue World into the Third World.
There was no sun, but there were half-formed rivers, mountains and plains. It looked like the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest.
First Man found a baby girl who grew up in four days. This was Changing Woman.
The fuzzy people who had followed from the First World became humans, reptiles and other animals. Changing Woman created the four original Navajo clans and then led everyone out of the Yellow Third World into the Fourth World.
Fourth World - the Glittering World
The Fourth World looked like the parts of New Mexico and the Southwest where the Navajo live today. The sun shone.
Changing Woman was very powerful and created the four seasons as the annual cycle of the earth.
She taught the Navajo how to live in harmony with the earth, everything on it, and with each other.
Today
There are many ancient rock paintings in Navajo land. Some show the journey through the different worlds.
Pictures of Changing Woman and other Holy People are created in sandpaintings for ceremonies.
Stories about Coyote the trickster are often told on winter nights when families are at home.
