Within the rich tapestry of Jicarilla Apache mythology, the figure of Naiyenesgani stands as a pivotal Creator God and a powerful monster slayer. These ancient narratives recount his heroic deeds, illustrating his profound influence on the world’s formation and his tireless efforts to protect early humanity from a host of fearsome creatures. The stories of Naiyenesgani are not merely tales of adventure; they are foundational lessons that transmit cultural values, explain natural phenomena, and celebrate the enduring spirit of the Apache people.
From confronting monstrous beasts to outsmarting cunning predators, Naiyenesgani’s journeys are filled with trials that test his supernatural abilities and wisdom. He is often depicted as a benevolent yet stern deity, capable of both immense power and subtle teachings, ensuring that the world is made safe and habitable for human beings. Let us delve into some of the most compelling exploits of this legendary figure, exploring how he overcame threats and shaped the very fabric of existence according to Jicarilla Apache traditions.
Naiyenesgani and the Slaughtering Elk
One of Naiyenesgani’s earliest and most vital tasks involved confronting a monstrous Elk that terrorized the land, indiscriminately killing people. This beast was so formidable that approaching it proved exceptionally difficult for Naiyenesgani alone. However, a mysterious partner emerged, offering assistance. This companion skillfully gnawed away the hair on the Elk’s breast, creating vulnerable points for Naiyenesgani to exploit. After this critical preparation, Naiyenesgani made four ritualistic motions before striking the beast with his weapon.
The Elk, wounded, retreated into a series of underground holes that his partner had seemingly prepared. Naiyenesgani pursued, hiding within these tunnels. As the enraged Elk broke out of each successive hole, Naiyenesgani moved into the next, demonstrating a strategic prowess that belied the brute force of his opponent. The pursuit continued until, finally, the Elk collapsed, dead, just as it breached the bottommost tunnel. His partner reappeared to claim the breast, while Naiyenesgani carefully skinned the enormous hide and took one of the horns, filling two blood vessels with the Elk’s blood before drying the hide in the sun. This act not only removed a significant threat but also provided valuable resources, underscoring the practical aspects of Apache survival and resourcefulness embedded in the myths.
The Challenge of the Man-Eating Eagles
Naiyenesgani’s journey next led him to confront a powerful and dangerous Eagle. Understanding the Eagle’s predatory nature, Naiyenesgani devised a clever plan. He wrapped himself in the hardened elk hide and positioned himself in an open area, luring the Eagle. The Eagle swooped down, attempting to pierce him with its talons, but the tough hide proved impenetrable. Frustrated, the Eagle made several attempts before finally managing to seize him. It flew Naiyenesgani back to its nest, where its young awaited a meal.
At the nest, the young eagles and their father, unaware of the deception, prepared to devour him. As they bent their heads over what they thought was their prey, Naiyenesgani let out a soft “Sst.” The young eagles reported this strange sound to their father, who dismissed it as air escaping the wound, urging them to eat. This moment highlights Naiyenesgani’s composure and cunning. When the old eagle departed, Naiyenesgani, still holding the elk horn, questioned the young eagles about their parents’ perching spots. He then awaited the father’s return with another victim—a beautiful dead girl. Making four ritualistic motions, Naiyenesgani struck the old eagle, sending it plummeting into a canyon, where it burst upon impact.
He then dispatched the mother eagle in a similar fashion upon her return. To the now orphaned young eagles, Naiyenesgani declared their fate: “You will be just as large as you are now. People will like your feathers.” However, he added a warning: “Those who take them will have their muscles draw up. You shall not talk.” From that moment, the young eagles ceased speaking, forever bound by Naiyenesgani’s decree, transforming them from man-eaters into beings whose feathers were prized by humans, but only with a certain respect and understanding of their origins. This part of the narrative explains the origin of certain eagle characteristics and their relationship with humans in Jicarilla Apache culture.
Grandmother Bat’s Disobedience
From the eagle’s domain, Naiyenesgani observed his grandmother, Bat, approaching from the timber, carrying a basket. He called out to her, requesting to be taken down from the cliff. Initially, she did not hear, but upon his second shout, she acknowledged him. When she reached him, he noted the small carrying rope on her basket. She confidently asserted its strength, stating, “Why, grandson, I carry cumbersome things with this. Fill it with stones and see if it breaks.” He complied, and she demonstrated its resilience by jumping with the stone-filled basket.
Once the stones were removed, Naiyenesgani entered the basket, and his grandmother began her descent, cautioning him repeatedly not to open his eyes due to the sheer rock face. Upon reaching the bottom, Naiyenesgani declared that he had killed something and led her to the site. There, he intended to bestow upon her “good property”—filling her basket with feathers. He instructed her to carry the basket along the tops of the hills, explicitly warning her not to take the hillside path. However, driven by unknown impulse or habit, Grandmother Bat chose the hillside, and birds swooped down, snatching all the feathers.
He refilled her basket twice more, reiterating his instructions each time, and each time she disobeyed, losing the feathers to the birds. Upon her third return, Naiyenesgani’s patience wore thin. “You do not want to possess this good property which I have been giving you,” he stated. “For that reason, your feathers will be poor. You will live in the clefts of the rocks and will use bark for your house. Your garments will be poor. You do not want things that are good. You will not have a shirt.” This episode serves as a powerful moral lesson, explaining the humble state of bats and the consequences of ignoring wise counsel in Native American storytelling.
Liberation from the Marsh Dweller
Naiyenesgani’s compassion for humanity led him to yet another perilous location, a marsh where a malevolent entity had captured and submerged many people. Approaching the inhabitants, he was implored, “If you have supernatural power, take out our people from the marsh where they have sunk.” With characteristic resolve, he agreed. Arriving at the marsh, he performed a ritual, standing at the east, south, west, and north, causing the water to miraculously disappear. He then entered the subterranean dwelling of the monster.
Confronting the monster, Naiyenesgani demanded the return of all the people, not just one. The monster initially denied their presence, but Naiyenesgani’s unwavering resolve and power compelled it to comply. One by one, then in a crowd, the people began to emerge, crowding out of the marsh’s depths onto the surface. Naiyenesgani then decreed the monster’s fate: “You may just stay in the marsh.” He admonished it further, “You must not do it any time. Just soft mud does not talk. It must not speak words.” Thus, the monster was stripped of its power to harm and its ability to communicate, relegated to its silent, muddy existence. This monumental act secured the safety and freedom of numerous human lives, solidifying Naiyenesgani’s role as a protector in Jicarilla Apache cosmology.
After the rescue, Naiyenesgani instructed four individuals to take charge of their respective people, warning them not to go too close among the houses. He then presided over the reunification of families, directing each leader to pick out their own people and return home. This organized liberation and dispersal ensured the stability and peace of the newly freed communities, highlighting Naiyenesgani’s wisdom in establishing social order.
The Westward Journey and Dispersal
Following his many heroic deeds, Naiyenesgani sat among the people, and addressing them, he requested, “select for me four pretty girls. I wish to go with them.” He then embarked on a journey westward, taking these four companions with him. At various significant locations—Kagodjae, Tsosbai, and Becdelkai—he left one girl at each place. With the final girl, he continued his journey further west, where they are said to remain forever. This concluding act in the narrative suggests a completion of his initial tasks, a final dispersal, and perhaps the establishment of new lineages or the sanctification of certain lands. It marks a transition, hinting at the enduring presence of Naiyenesgani‘s influence even in his absence, ensuring the continuity of the world he helped shape.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Naiyenesgani
The tales of Naiyenesgani from Jicarilla Apache mythology are far more than simple adventure stories; they are profound narratives that encapsulate the core beliefs, moral codes, and worldview of a vibrant culture. As a powerful Creator God and unwavering monster slayer, Naiyenesgani’s actions define the boundaries between order and chaos, safety and danger, wisdom and folly. From battling the destructive Elk and predatory Eagles to liberating humanity from the marsh monster, his exploits consistently aim to create a habitable and just world for the Apache people.
His interactions, whether with defiant grandmothers or grateful communities, serve as allegories for proper conduct, respect for sacred instructions, and the understanding of one’s place within the natural and spiritual order. The legacy of Naiyenesgani is etched into the landscape and the oral traditions of the Jicarilla Apache, reminding all of the ongoing struggle between good and evil, and the ultimate triumph of creation over destruction. These stories ensure that future generations understand their origins, their responsibilities, and the enduring power of their ancestral traditions.
