“Alk’idaa’ jini. . . . In the beginning there was only darkness, with sky above and water below. Then by some mysterious and holy means, sky and water came together. When they touched, that’s when everything began. That was the First World, which was like an island floating in a sea of mist. It was red in color and it was an ancient place. There were no people living there, only Nilch’i Dine’’, who existed in spiritual form. . . . There was no sun or moon, and there were no stars. The only source of light was the sky, which comprised four sacred colors and glowed with a different hue and lit the world from a different direction according to the time of day. When the eastern sky glowed white, it was considered dawn, and the Nilch’i Dine’’ would awaken and began to stir in preparation for the day. When the southern sky glowed blue, it was considered day, and the Nilch’i Dine’’ went about their daily activities. When the western sky was yellow, it was considered evening, and the Nilch’i Dine’’ put away their work and amusements. When the northern sky turned black, it was considered night, and the Nilch’i Dine’’ lay down and went to sleep.”

—Irvin Morris, the opening passages of From the Glittering World: A Navaho Story, 1997.