This recording began in 1965 when the author was recording Navajo creation stories from friends of his—Ray Brown, Jimmie Blueeyes, Rae Joe, Raymond Tsosie, and, most importantly Jay DeGroat from whom Gerald learned much about navajo healing practices as well as mythology. In that sense, Jay (Jooghi, or Bluejay) is as much the creator of this audio book as Gerald. All in all, these are the interlocked tribal stories that have woven the great Navajo nation into the largest indigenous tribe in the world. As storytellers, the Navajos have no equal as they create a moral code for harmonious living with all things. Ambient sounds and music by jazz musician Ray Griffin whose work can be heard on the other recordings in this series.

About the Author/Reader

Gerald Hausman, born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1945, grew up in New Jersey and Massachusetts. He graduated from college in New Mexico and continued to live there for two decades. During that time, he had a summer residence on the island of Jamaica where he and his wife, Loretta, founded a school for creative writing. Mr. Hausman has lived in Bokeelia, Florida since 1994. In addition to his many books about Native America, Gerald Hausman has written extensively about animal mythology. His work as a folklorist has earned him many national and international honors. Gerald's most recent award is from the Florida Magazine Association for his column "Pine Island Soundings" about life on a barrier island.

Gerald is a frequent storyteller at college writers programs and at young authors conferences. Recently, he performed at the Young Authors Conference in Kaiserslautern, Germany as a guest of Department of Defense Dependent Schools. His lively presentations, complete with a myriad of sound effects, have earned him praise from storytellers, speakers, writers, and listeners.

Praise for Gerald Hausman and Navajo Nights

“This is the oral Navajo equivalent to the Christian Bible”
—Frank Waters, Masked Gods

“A revealing sample, astutely collected.”
—Tony Hillerman, author of Dancehall of the Dead, Coyote Waits and other novels