Excerpt from an introductory essay intended to contextualize a collection of Kris Davidson’s photographs and “Yoolthgai Awee: Beadwhite Baby Girl,” a Diné origin story shared by Sunny Dooley. A version of this essay and related photographs were first published in Chamisa: A Journal of Literary, Performance, and Visual Arts of the Greater Southwest, Volume 2. Produced by the University of New Mexcio, Chamisa is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that showcases cultural production in the Southwest.

Early maps marked the edges of the unknown with dragons and sea monsters. Today, our dragons inhabit deep space, taking the form of cosmic hazards, extraterrestrial life, and unanswered questions. This essay explores why stories and myths remain essential tools for scientific discovery, helping us navigate uncertainty and make meaning at the frontiers of exploration.