On a journey to Slim Water Canyon I lost my way and remembered the story of how when two Navajo sisters were going here they became seperated and journeyed far and near all over this country, Navajoland. I slept the and in that sleep could see that I was standing amongst the monoliths, the large spires of red sandstone covering Dinetah. It was like standing in the midst of Monument Valley.

This area is well known to people all over the world, but to the Navajo people they know the rocks of the their own areas, Rock Point, Hard Rock, Standing Rock, Canyon Mesa, White Mesa and such names in the canyons like Moon Water, Pine Springs, Dinnebito and others. It is these places we know well. I was walking in these lands and took a rest from a spring at the base of Tse. It was cool water and I thought about my life.

I was sitting there and looked up at the walls of rock standing near and not too far off, their color not too far from my own skin. I wondered if this is why it is called Navajo sandstone but remembered it was because of it's age. It is midwinter, when the season is cold and the long winter still lingers. A time when stories of coyotes and the sings of the Yei-be-che can be heard. They have waited patiently for their time and it is hear in the midst of white snow, blue mountains and dark skys. They have come frm their rest and dance and move about after First Frost which has come this way again. Where do they go I wondered, is it at the head of the earth.?

Do they sometimes grow weary like me and want to quit and take a break from life, to rest and leave all cares behind and seek the comfort of some other place. Wandering life is not allt easy and feet become like stone.

Do you want to not feel anything or anyone and to forget about trying, living and going on. Is it so with them? I seein the west late afternoon light at the high towering places of home. The sun was slowly moving, it's light and shadows moved like a caterpillar on the rocks. I looked once and then again. I stood up and could see these Yei's dressed in faces of stone, their bodies bent as if singing, not moving.

There is a head dress of eagle feathers, deer skin and the rustle of pine boughs about their neck and the their bodies are painted, their arms holding and resting in place with a rattle, pine needles and coyote skin laying itself dragging behind them. What are those, ah yes their medicine bags hanging at their side and with that there legs and feet seem frozen in dance. They stood there cast in stone, their spirits were calling out saying it is time to find the restoration of body, mind and soul and as dusk falls they are free to run.

They leave me there as they step out and fade into the night, We go to the places where we have been called. Some turn and look down at me, these giants have awaken head out. They seem to say you will go on just as we. Yes we were frozen, our bodies locked and though it seems we cannot move because we were held prisoner, it is not so. Our spirits run free and travel these same roads, canyons, flatlands and dusty trails you know. We go with you into the places we have seen far off, in the places known by you. We do not travel to be seen, it is our spirit that goes with you and we travel there for you. We sit and watch from your heart and the recesses of your mind we rest to let you know you that you are one of us, Dine. It is in you we live.

I stood there and looked at them as the sun fell below to become night and took a drink of cool water. I thought many times I have been to this place in the midst of them, Yeis ….

In times of my wanderings I have felt like them locked up as is cast in stone, frozen but under the sun have felt it's warmth and after a time find that I am free to go about and live, to survive and carry on. It is that way with life some times and looking at the red sandstone of Dinetah I see them and they wait to hear their names and in the songs of life are free, so at times when I am alone I some times think about them, and their patience and find that in taking the time to see them, I see myself and the world slows down and with it I can find life, calm and a little peace…