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The water animals summoned a great turtle and patted the earth upon its back. At once the turtle grew and grew, as did the amount of earth. This earth became North America, a great island. During all this time, Sky Woman continued her gentle fall. The leader of the swans grew concerned as Sky Woman’s approach grew imminent.
Many northeastern Indian peoples share a legend of how the world was created on the back of a giant sea turtle (some still refer to North America as a “turtle island”). While there are many versions of the tradition, the following selection is from the Iroquois Indians of New York State.
Turtle Island. Satellite image of Turtle Island. Turtle Island is a name for Earth [1] or North America, used by some American Indigenous peoples, as well as by some Indigenous rights activists. The name is based on a creation story common to several Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands of North America. [2]
Turtle Island is a term used in Native American folklore to refer to North America. According to legend, North America was created on the back of a giant turtle who swam in the Great Sea. The turtle carried soil from the bottom of the sea and placed it on its back to create the continent. Turtle Island is a symbol of the connection between the ...
Nov 6, 2018 · Turtle Island is the name many Algonquian- and Iroquoian-speaking peoples mainly in the northeastern part of North America use to refer to the continent. In various Indigenous origin stories, the turtle is said to support the world, and is an icon of life itself. Turtle Island therefore speaks to various spiritual beliefs about creation and for ...
Sep 19, 2023 · The second Sioux creation story, given below, describes how Wakan Tanka then created the third world, the world of this present era, and also explains why the world (or North America at least) was called "Turtle Island" – because it was formed on the back of the turtle.
Turtles play positive roles in the folklore of many Native American tribes. In the creation myths of some East Coast tribes (such as the Iroquois and Lenape), the Great Spirit created their homeland by placing earth on the back of a giant turtle. This is why some contemporary Native Americans refer to North America by the name "Turtle Island."
