Coyote

Societies the world over are populated by people who never overcome economic or social obstacles, while other people in the same societies are able to meet their challenges and seek resolution. Those people survive by their response to events and relationships as they enhance their personality, character, and spirituality. Chethlahe (Chet-la-hey) was his Navajo name. David Paladin was the name given to him at boarding school. His name recognition was based upon whether he was on or off the Navajo reservation. Later in his life he combined his identities and took the name David Chethlahe Paladin. Coyote provided an important life lessons for David Chethlahe Paladin. Known as a trickster, Coyote, according to Navajo mythology, brought light to the world when he sneaked up on the keeper of fire, Black God. While Black God slept, Coyote stole fire. During his journey Coyote was badly burned. Despite his injuries, Coyote was able to return with enough fire to light half of the world; hence, day and night. For Chethlahe the lesson was maintaining focus and direction in his life despite physical and spiritual obstacles. Chethlahe’s life was a series of challenges that included an identity quest that revolved around his Native American spiritualism and Anglo religion. His Indian spiritualism and his quest to understand the white man’s God presented ongoing contradictions and conflicts in his life. He was born of an Anglo, Catholic priest and a young Navajo woman in majestic Canyon de Chelly (shay) on the Navajo reservation. In his sixteenth year he entered World War II as a sabotage agent. Following capture, he became a prisoner in the German concentration camp at Dachau and subsequently endured treatment that no living being should be subjected. During captivity his native…