Introduction
“Now,“ she said to them.
“You are reading to go on.
“You have the power to seek help for yourselves and for your people.
“Be on your way, then. And walk in beauty.”
And with those words from her the two youths placed the sacred naay44’ ats’os in a medicine bundle which she had prepared for them, stood up, thanked her, and departed on their quest.
Since they now knew fully who they were, and since they now had a distinct purpose in traveling, they set out confidently, it is said.
Ever since I first heard the Din4 stories of creation, I was enamored by how fantastic they were. Stories of monsters, man-eating plants, incredible journeys, world shaking floods, and talking animals all caught my attention. I didn’t completely understand the meaning or purpose of the stories until later, but I did enjoy them for the entertainment value when I was a child. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I heard them and read them again that I was able to see these tales with a different understanding. These epics were a part of my history, a part of who I am as a Din4 woman, and are all retold orally through ceremonies and daily traditional activities. I had no idea how essential these tales were to our everyday way of life as Nihook11’ Diyin Din4’4, the Holy Beings of the Earth’s Surface. From the very beginning of life in the Black World, to the present day, we are meant to be thoughtful, gracious, resilient, kind beings of beauty, and somehow, we forgot all of that.
During Westward Expansion, and the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny, Native people have been subjected to terrible traumas. Our lands, culture, language, and livelihood all taken away from us in an effort to make us more “civilized” and tamed Americans. We were forced to forget our past and embrace the future. Our lands and our minds were raped, and in the wake of that devastation, we led ourselves to believe that we were worthless, and not beautiful like we once were. This is the way it is felt on the side of the Native reserve, or at least in the way I perceive things. Many may be in a state of denial, but the effects of our abuse are present in alcoholism, suicide, sexual assault, murders, unemployment, substandard living, diseases, poor nutrition, poor math and reading skills, and low graduation rates at the high school and college level. In an effort to inspire and incite to perform at his or her best, I believe a student’s boost in self-esteem, self-identity and a return to the use of the imagination is what’s needed.
The story of the Twins shows the determination and strength one has when knowing and believing in oneself, and having a goal in mind. We all have a purpose in this world, and we all can achieve it by recognizing the obstacles but striving to overcome with positive affirmations of beauty in nature and self. It is also important to support systems for themselves, and their fathers, in an attempt to save their people like the twins had along the way. In this tale, young Navajo boys search for themselves, and for their father in an attempt to help their people from terrible monsters. Through belief in themselves and the help of family and friends, the boys overcome great obstacles to receive gifts of great weapons to rid the earth of monsters, and restore balance to earth.
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