Creation of the Sun and the Moon Story

Áłtsé Hastiin (First Man) and Áłtsé Asdzą́ą́ (First Woman) lay in the first hogan, his head to the east and hers to the west. As they began to plan for the time when people would live on the earth, they covered the floor of the hogan with an unwounded buckskin where they placed a perfect round turquoise. Below the turquoise they placed a perfect white shell. With help from the other Diyin Dine’é (Holy People) they planned for twelve months during which the moon would pass from dark to light and the sun would move to a different path. Fire God heated the turquoise until it became red hot. Turquoise Boy entered the glowing Turquoise. First Man used his crystal to heat the White Shell and White Shell Girl entered it. In this way, Turquoise Boy became Jóhonaaʼéí (Sun Carrier) and White Shell Girl became Tłʼéhonaaʼéí (The One Who Carries the Night).