mythicaL characters Big giant A large evil monster Changing WoMan Represents life and is mother to Monster Slayer and Born for Water sPiDer WoMan Wove the universe and taught the Navajo about beauty the sun Father to Monster Slayer and Born for Water and some monsters Monster sLayer Twin to Born for Water warrior and son of the Sun and Changing Woman Born for Water Twin to Monster Slayer warrior and son of the Sun and Changing Woman
iNtrOductiON This legend comes from the Navajo people The Navajo sometimes refer to themselves as the Diné which means the people Today the Navajo Nation is the largest tribe in the United States with more than 250,000 members Their reservation stretches across northwestern New Mexico northeastern Arizona and southeastern Utah Oral stories and songs are an important way Navajo customs and histories get passed down through generations The Warrior Twins tells the tale of twin heroes Monster Slayer and Born for Water who make the world safe for people by ridding it of monsters The mountain featured in the story is believed to be Mount Taylor in northwest New Mexico near the town of Grants 4
Long long ago there was no peace on Earth Monsters roamed the world They came from all directions and destroyed people 5
