Gary Nez, five years old, sat next
to his father near the fireplace of the hogan his family lived in near
Canyon de
Chelly.
It was winter and the snow had begun to fall early that evening.
This
was Gary's favorite time of the year because only during the winter
season could he hear the creation stories of the Navajo people.
He
loved to hear the bass in his father's voice speaking to him in their
native tongue about the four different worlds and how the world they
lived in, the Glittering World, came to be.
This particular evening, Gary's father told him about the sky and the meaning of the constellations. "Navajos believe," he started, "that constellation patterns have a specific purpose. They are there for everyone to see so that we can learn from them. They teach us Hozho, the Beauty Way and the Diné Way of Life, the Way of the Navajo people. They help us learn right from wrong, and good from bad." It was these words and the stories that followed that evening that inspired Gary to study astronomy.
Gary graduated with an undergraduate degree in Physics and received a masters in Astronomy. He studied and took a particular interest in the mythology of constellations from various cultures, including Greek, Roman and other Native American tribes. Most of the stories behind the creation of the constellations, he realized, were linked to the lessons his father taught him at a young age.
After he retired, Gary returned to the Navajo reservation and renovated the hogan where he grew up. The home brought back all the memories of his childhood and the stories his father shared with him near the fireplace. He was saddened when he realized that his family had not been as lucky as he to have heard the lessons written in the sky or heard the words of wisdom riddled in the stories of the creation of the stars. In fact, his children had not lived on the reservation but only visited during the annual family reunions and ceremonies.
Gary was unhappy with the lack of knowledge he saw in his two grandchildren, Shanai and Avinn, who grew up in the metropolitan area of Phoenix, unconnected with their rich culture. Gary decided that he would teach his grandchildren about the lessons in the sky from the best place to stargaze - Canyon de Chelly. That summer he called his daughter Vanessa and asked to take the two children, ages five and eight, on a camping trip in the canyon. His daughter was thrilled and quickly agreed.
This storybook is an account of their first summer trip to Canyon de Chelly. While Shanai and Avinn take the hike down the canyon, they are confronted by situations and animals that precipitate a story from their grandfather about the stars.
The first story is told when Gary is tired of hearing the two children argue. He draws upon the story of the Greeks' account of how the constellation Hyades is formed. The message comes as a surprise to the children, but will this lesson be enough for Shanai and Avinn to stop their sibling squabbling?
On their journey down the canyon, the sun had fully set and the stars become visible. Shanai's jealousy and Avinn's "I'm bigger than you" attitude requires Grandpa to tell the Pawnee story of the god Tirawa. The different hued stars have similar dispositions but can the children see the light?
As the family nears the bottom of the canyon Avinn decides to play a trick on Shanai. Grandpa catches on to Avinn and decides to play a trick on him instead. Which celestial body and lesson will this action teach? Will everyone be laughing when the trickery is discovered?
Finally, Gary, Shanai, and Avinn have set up their camp and are staring at the sky. It has been a long hike and they are in a good spirit. Gary feels this trip has been a success and tells one final story with the most important message of the night - the Greek story of the creation of the Pleiades.
This particular evening, Gary's father told him about the sky and the meaning of the constellations. "Navajos believe," he started, "that constellation patterns have a specific purpose. They are there for everyone to see so that we can learn from them. They teach us Hozho, the Beauty Way and the Diné Way of Life, the Way of the Navajo people. They help us learn right from wrong, and good from bad." It was these words and the stories that followed that evening that inspired Gary to study astronomy.
Gary graduated with an undergraduate degree in Physics and received a masters in Astronomy. He studied and took a particular interest in the mythology of constellations from various cultures, including Greek, Roman and other Native American tribes. Most of the stories behind the creation of the constellations, he realized, were linked to the lessons his father taught him at a young age.
After he retired, Gary returned to the Navajo reservation and renovated the hogan where he grew up. The home brought back all the memories of his childhood and the stories his father shared with him near the fireplace. He was saddened when he realized that his family had not been as lucky as he to have heard the lessons written in the sky or heard the words of wisdom riddled in the stories of the creation of the stars. In fact, his children had not lived on the reservation but only visited during the annual family reunions and ceremonies.
Gary was unhappy with the lack of knowledge he saw in his two grandchildren, Shanai and Avinn, who grew up in the metropolitan area of Phoenix, unconnected with their rich culture. Gary decided that he would teach his grandchildren about the lessons in the sky from the best place to stargaze - Canyon de Chelly. That summer he called his daughter Vanessa and asked to take the two children, ages five and eight, on a camping trip in the canyon. His daughter was thrilled and quickly agreed.
This storybook is an account of their first summer trip to Canyon de Chelly. While Shanai and Avinn take the hike down the canyon, they are confronted by situations and animals that precipitate a story from their grandfather about the stars.
The first story is told when Gary is tired of hearing the two children argue. He draws upon the story of the Greeks' account of how the constellation Hyades is formed. The message comes as a surprise to the children, but will this lesson be enough for Shanai and Avinn to stop their sibling squabbling?
On their journey down the canyon, the sun had fully set and the stars become visible. Shanai's jealousy and Avinn's "I'm bigger than you" attitude requires Grandpa to tell the Pawnee story of the god Tirawa. The different hued stars have similar dispositions but can the children see the light?
As the family nears the bottom of the canyon Avinn decides to play a trick on Shanai. Grandpa catches on to Avinn and decides to play a trick on him instead. Which celestial body and lesson will this action teach? Will everyone be laughing when the trickery is discovered?
Finally, Gary, Shanai, and Avinn have set up their camp and are staring at the sky. It has been a long hike and they are in a good spirit. Gary feels this trip has been a success and tells one final story with the most important message of the night - the Greek story of the creation of the Pleiades.