WHERE THE TWO CAME TO THEIR FATHER - A Navajo War Ceremonial

This work takes its title from the richly symbolic creation legend of the Navajo people, which they incorporated into their blessing ceremony for tribe members headed to battle. Having observed this rite during World War II, when Native Americans were for the first time drafted into the U. S, military, ethnologist Maud Oakes recorded the legend and made reproductions of the beautiful ceremonial paintings, given to her by the medicine man Jeff King or Hashkeh-yilth-e-yah. 

When the United States joined World War II in 1941 and young Navajos left the reservation to serve in the army, Hashkeh-yilth-e-yah performed a ritual for them called Where the Two Came to Their Father that tells the story of two young heroes who go to the hogan of their father, the Sun, and return with the power to destroy the monsters that are plaguing their people, The two-day ceremony, which included songs and elaborate sand paintings, was meant to keep the young men's souls healthy as they went off to fight, away from their land and their people.

At the time, an artist and ethnologist named Maud Oakes (1903-1990) was living on the reservation. With Hashkeh-yilth-e-yah' s permission, she recorded the ceremony, including the sand-paintings. She published the text and her paintings, with commentary by mythologist Joseph Campbell, as Where the Two Came to Their Father: A Navajo War Ceremonial. It is one of the most complete extant recordings of a Navajo ritual. Hashkeh-yilth-e-yah died and was buried in January 1964. He was the first Navajo buried at Arlington National Ceremony, near Washington, D.C.

The publication consists of a 55-page portfolio with the 55-page book in wraps, and 18 loose prints, all housed in a portfolio box.  Click any of the links below to view each print.

     Plate I. Mountain Around Which Moving Was Done

     Plate II. Sand Dune Monster

     Plate III. Rock That Claps Together

     Plate IV, Across Water

     Plate V. Sun's House

     Plate VI. Lightning Armor House

     Plate VII. Concerning the Skies

     Plate VIII. Guessing Tests

     Plate IX. Hot Spring

     Plate X. Talking God

     Plate XI. Navajo Mountain

     Plate XII. Holy Ones Standing on Top of Holy Mountains

     Plate XIII. Twelve Holy People

     Plate XIV. Earth and Sky

     Plate XV. Sun's House Guardians - Big Bear Painting

     Plate XVI. Sun's House Guardians - Big Snake Painting

     Plate XVII Sun's House Guardians - Big Thunder Painting

     Plate XVIII Sun's House Guardians - Big Wind Painting

Condition: Individual plates in excellent condition; Bound book in excellent condition; Hard bound portfolio case soiled