Diné Clan History
After the creation of the Fourth World the people came to reside in Dinétah. They became careless and would not follow what the Holy Beings had taught them. The Holy Beings disapproved with the people and to teach them a lesson all the precious natural elements were taken away such as dark clouds, female and male rain, animals, plants, all things that were necessary to live.
Changing Woman, the mother of the Dine, was asked to takes those essential natural elements to the west. She agreed to the task and sun and moon told her they would come to visit with her at the end of each day in the west. After some time, the people began to notice there was not rain. The lack of rain had caused the earth to become dry which resulted in scarce plants and animals for food. The people began to ask why they were being punished. A messenger was sent to find out where all the natural essential valuables were. The messenger found them in the west in the Floating House of Turquoise, the home of Changing Women. The essential natural valuables were returned with much instruction.
Changing Woman became lonely after returning the essential natural valuables to Dinétah. She created the first human beings. Four sets of male and female were created. Changing Woman first created the Towering House clan by rubbing her skin on her right chest and blowing on it to give it life. The second being created was Bitterwater clan from the left chest of Changing Woman. The third being created was One That Walks Around clan from the right side of her back. The fourth being created was the Mud People clan from the left side of her back. Changing Woman blew on the beings to give life to them.
The first four clans were given canes and protectors to guide them to travel back to Dinétah. Kiyaanii was given white shell cane and Grizzly Bear as its protector. Bitterwater clan was given turquoise cane and Bull Snake as its protector. One That Walks Around clan was given abalone shell cane and Mountain Lion as its protector. Mud People clan was given an obsidian cane and Big Wolf as its protector. The four original clans traveled back to Dinétah where the Holy Beings gifted them with songs, prayers, language, teachings, and everything about how to take care of Mother Earth and Father Sky. After this, all the Holy People left Mother Earth to their perspective places where they reside to this day. As the four original clans began to live and move about Dinétah other groups of clans were created and joined the four original clans. Today, approximately 102 clans in 21 groups are left. Each clan group has one to ten or more related clans. Many have become extinct for various reasons.
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