Diné Creation StoryNAVAJO CREATION STORY PORTRAYED THROUGH THEIR ART BY: KARINA CHAVES

The First World (Black World) In the Navajo creation story, the first world was pitch

black. There were four seas and in the middle an island with a single pine tree existed. Insects were present in the first world.

The four seas were ruled by supernatural beings. Above each sea there were clouds. There was a black cloud, a white cloud, a blue cloud and a yellow cloud.

The female spirit of life lived in the black cloud while the male spirit of dawn lived in the white. When the blue and yellow clouds came together, the First Woman, while the black and white came together to form the First Man.

The Great Coyote was formed in the Black World. The Second Coyote was also formed and brought witchcraft to the world.

First World: Navajo Sand painting (painting of sand painting)

The four clouds representing the four directions and four sacred mountains, forming the first man and first woman.

First World: Navajo Sand painting – First Man and First Woman

The Second World (Blue World) The four beings, First Man, First Woman, the Great

Coyote and Second Coyote or First Angry, climbed up from the Black World in to the Second World, Blue World.

There were many types of birds in the Blue World. The Swallow people, said to be a powerful people, lived in blue houses in the Blue World.

The four beings lived with the Swallow people for some time but were asked to leave after wanting to sleep with the Swallow Chief’s wife.

Then the four beings, the Air-Spirit people wandered around looking for a way into the next world. The Wind called them and they followed him where they found a hole in the sky.

Second World: Modern Navajo Painting – representing the Blue World

Second World: Modern Navajo Painting – Blue World Emergence

The Third World (Yellow World)

In the Yellow World there were 6 mountains and holy people lived on the mountains. The holy people were immortal: Talking God, Water Sprinkler, House God, Fire God, Turquoise Boy and Shell Girl.

The holy people turned First Man and First Woman from spirits to humans and told them to live together as husband and wife. They had children and the holy people educated their children

Spider Man and Spider Woman were also present in the Yellow World. They taught the descendants of the Navajo how to weave.

Third World: Navajo Painting of the Yellow World

Third World: Navajo Basket with Spider Woman Cross & Pendant with Spider Woman

The Fourth World (White World) The people emerged into the Fourth World through the

slit in the sky. In the White world they were on an island in the middle of a lake surrounded by mountains.

Water Sprinkler had four stones with him. He threw one to the east. When it hit the cliff wall, it broke a hole through it, and water began to flow out of the lake. He threw a stone to the south. He threw one to the west. And to the north he threw one. Each stone created a hole in the cliff, and the water of the lake became lower. After awhile they were able to leave the island.

It was then that First Man and First Woman built their home, the first Hogan.

Fourth World: Navajo Sand painting showing the whole creation story