Navajo Creation Myth

Creating Power

A supernatural being who made the new world and shaped it.

Kangi the crow

The sole survivor of the flood in the previous world.

New world

A world created by the Creating Power after the devastating flood.

Songs

Melodies sung by the Creating Power to bring rain and cause the flood.

Flood

A catastrophic event caused by the earth splitting apart and water gushing up through cracks.

Loon

An animal sent by the Creating Power to retrieve mud, but failed in its task.

Otter

An animal sent by the Creating Power to retrieve mud, but failed in its task.

Beaver

An animal sent by the Creating Power to retrieve mud, but failed in its task.

Turtle

An animal sent by the Creating Power to retrieve mud, succeeded and provided the mud for the new land.

Mud

The material used by the Creating Power to shape the new land.

Earth

The new land created by the Creating Power after spreading mud on the water.

Eagle wing feathers

Feathers used by the Creating Power to spread earth wide and varied.

Oceans, streams, and lakes

Water bodies formed from the tears of the Creating Power.

Turtle Continent

The name given to the new land in honor of the turtle.

Men and women

Human beings created by the Creating Power from red, white, black, and yellow earth.

Sacred pipe

A pipe given to the people by the Creating Power, symbolizing how they should live.

Living in harmony

The Creating Power's advice to all living things to prevent the world from being destroyed again.

Bad and ugly

The fate of the world if the people make it so.