The creation myth of the Navajo

Diné Bahane

This story tell of the creation of people and the world as we know it today.

First world the black world
known for a singular island with a tree sounded by 4 black seas, little to no light
Man and women created separately from 4 colored clouds
They find each other after First women sees First man's fire.
Many other peoples come into being including the ant people (red and black) the wasp people and others
World becomes crouded and conflect arises the people are asked to leave by the 4 rulers from the 4 seas
The inhabitants climb up and find a hole into the 2nd world.

Blue world
Is a small world filled already by its own inhabitants: Swallow people and grey animals that have blue eyes
Conflict arises among the inhabitants and people wish to leave but can not
First man creates four wands and the inhabitants walk on them until they find a slit into the third world.

The yellow world
This world is known to have two rivers flowing from north to south and from east to west, they cross in the middle
Man and Women become human and are no longer spirit
Many people are born and quickly grow and multiply
Great flood comes water continually rising
Four Reeds are planted and grow into a great stock that is hollowed out by wood pecker.
Inhabitants flee up a planted reed and enter into the fourth world

The White or glittering world
Water is still rising and is caused because 'First angry a coyote has stolen water beasts children. Some variation in the story but he gives at least on back and the water recedes.
First man and First women plan out and create sun and moon seasons and stars, This is disrupted by coyote first angry, who unbalances seasons and lunar cycle. and scatters many of the stars randomly.
Monster slayer and his brother are born and goes on many adventures

Monster slayer leaves four monsters alive.
Cold, because without her the world would become too hot.
Hunger, because without him food would loos its pleasure and purpose, there would be no planting and no feasting.
Poverty, because without him their would be no wearing out of items, and then there would be no creation or innovation again on the earth.
Death, because with out her people would never die and therefore there would be no need of children because without death new life would not occur

and that is how the Navajo Indians describe the creation of the world as we know it today


Sources
http://navajopeople.org/blog/navajo-creation-story-the-first-world-nihodilhil-black-world/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Din%C3%A9_Bahane%CA%BC