Creation Myths of The Aborigine and Navajo

Creation myths have played a significant role for cultures since early times of mankind.  Examples range from the Aborigines of Australia to the Navajos of North America, whose folklore has contributed immensely to the pride of both cultures. The Aborigines believed their eternal ancestors suddenly awoke after a deep sleep and slowly began to walk the earth; first as animals, then as half animal-half human and even occasionally half human-half plant. The Navajos creation myth believes revolved around the belief that there were once three underworlds, and aspiring events took place that formed our world.

            In order to properly depict creation myths, I believe it is only fitting to talk about a brief history of both cultures.  The Aborigines first appeared in Australia some 30,000 years ago, where they migrated from Central Asia.  Although scholars believe there were 500-600 distinct groups among the Aborigines, they feel each group shared some unifying links.  Examples include; strong spiritual beliefs that tie them to the land, a tribal culture of storytelling and art, and unlike other indigenous populations, a difficult colonial history.  Scholars estimate today there may be up to 400,000 aboriginal people, or 2% of Australia’s total population.

            Contrast to the Aborigines, the Navajos appeared in the Southwest around 1000AD. Located across the southwest, predominantly in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona; much like the Aborigines, the Navajos have a strong relationship with the land, and have spiritual ceremonies. There is believed to be some 50 to 60 ceremonies; although an exact number is unknown. Most of the ceremonies last up to four to five days.

            As stated above, the Navajos believed in four separate underworlds, which housed animals, plants, and masked spirits. The fourth world was created through the use of a magical reed. The Navajo’s story of the first man and first woman is much like our ‘Adam and Eve’ story. Once set on earth, the first thing the two of them did was build a beautiful house and sing the blessing song. The first man was created in the East from the Black and White clouds and the first woman was created in the west from the Yellow and Blue clouds. They built the house exactly the way the ‘Talking God’ prescribed to them. Upon completing the house, they set out creating other features of the surrounding land and universe, to include correct placement of mountains, the moon and the sun in the sky. They were very meticulous about placing the stars in a careful way—although the Coyote, known as the trickster, seized the corner of the blanket where the stars were laying and tugged—thus throwing all the stars into the night sky. The people continued to build their new found earth, and everything was going great, until the evil monsters appeared and began to kill the new earth people. All hope was lost, until the birth of the ‘Ever Changing Woman’; she banished the evil spirits away from our earth. The Ever Changing Woman eventually married the sun, and bore two kin. They were known as the ‘Monster Slayer’ and ‘Child-Born-of-Water’.  Shortly following their birth they travelled to their father, and he granted them with lightning bolts to fight off the evil monsters. It is believed that after killing the monsters, they turned into stone, thus forming the Black Mesa in New Mexico. After killing all the monsters, Ever Changing Woman wanted to create more people, so she used the flakes off of her own skin to create the first four tribes; Near Water People, Mud People, Salt Water People, and Bitter Water People.