They came, the two–she from Turquoise Mountain, blessed to walk in beauty, he from Star Mountain, blessed with strength in the dawning. They came as one with the song of protection and in harmony with the universe, in harmony with all things that have no end: the sun, the moon, the turning of day and night, the season, the sky, and the earth. And they knew the male and female of all that existed.

 

They were happy, for they knew they had lived in the way they were taught; and they knew it was good, for they lived in harmony with all creation. And in that home between the sacred mountains by Pointed Rock near a place called “Where-The-Deer-Make-Their-Track” came not one child but many children, and they too walked in beauty; and they lived in the home, and everything that belonged in their home was theirs, each sharing a portion of whatever existed there.

 

For when a child is born in the Navajo way, he is not separated into a different room or lodging but is kept in the harmony of the home, sleeping near his father and mother until he is old enough to be on his own at about six years of age. It is the Navajo way—the way of the family.

 

The moment the child comes into this world, he becomes a part of a sacred unit—the family. He immediately inherits a portion of that home and all else that exists there.

 

And should he go away when he becomes old enough, he still has a home, he still has sheep or horses, he still has land; and it is forbidden to destroy them or give them away without his knowing. All that he has are spoken of as his possessions; they are sacred possessions. If someone should want them, the mother will say, “No, that belongs to my child who is away. I cannot give you what is his. It is not right for me to give them away.”

It is tradition to give a child his own brand or earmark by which he can identify his horses, cattle, and sheep. When he comes home, he again takes hold of his possessions. And he is not required to be independent of his family, for it is not right to destroy a sacred unit. If he should come with a family of his own, they are all welcome to become a part of that one home. That is the Navajo way, for it was established at the beginning of the fourth world; it has been their law, a family law.

 

Even away from home, I can still smell cedar burning in our humble hogan in the valley; I see sheep grazing in the hills in the evening stillness. I see my grandmother by the fire making bread for our evening meal. I see our small patch of corn swaying in the breeze. I love these memories. No matter where I go, no matter how impressive the world may seem, I cannot forget my home on the reservation. That is where I belong because that is my home, my land. And my family is there.

 

In this series of short stories, Ray Baldwin Louis takes us from the Hogan—a traditional Navajo dwelling—to the importance of family and elders; the role of the woman, wife and mother; responsibilities; survival; the clan system; the land; the medicine man and more. Be sure to read all the stories and to “Discover Navajo”.