Now, jiní, jiní, they say, we accept jiní as part
of our stories on simple faith.
It's not important who said it but that it was said.
These stories become part of our collective memory.
Our stories can begin and with jiní.
At this place, Perry says it's named after a contest where
young men shot flocks of arrows towards the sky
to see who could come closest to the clouds.
At this other place, a tryst took place
on the wide sandy bed near the Tabares, says Alice.
Jiní.
It's best to take time to listen to the stories and not be
in a hurry, the Diné man says.
He lives near the vendor booths where you can buy a cappuccino
and tourist jewelry.
He knows the stories not echoed on paper.
Díí kwe'é Dibé Yázhí Bich'ah wolyé jiní,
this place is called Lamb's Cap, they say.
A man in line and drew the animals on the canyon wall
and blessed it with prayers for the people's return.
He waited.
Time passed.
Then a long road man came through the Canyon.
He's there on the wall with the others.
Which will last longer, the drawings or the pictures?
Which will last longer, the drawings or the stories
of jiní?