Haudenosaunee / Anishinaabe

Turtle

In Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) cosmology, the Earth was formed on the back of a great turtle when Sky Woman fell from the upper world, giving North America the name "Turtle Island"; the turtle represents longevity and endurance, and the Turtle clan held preeminent status.

TraditionHaudenosaunee / Anishinaabe
SymbolTurtle Island; the Earth carried on a turtle back
DomainsGrounding · Protection · Rest

Citation

Pearce, Robert J. "Turtles from Turtle Island: An Archaeological Perspective from Iroquoia." Ontario Archaeology, 2005.

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