Description

GRANDMOTHER TURTLE

The turtle plays an important role in the teachings of the Anishinaabe people.

In our Creation story, there was a time long ago when the Creator saw that the Beings on Mother Earth were living in great turmoil and fighting amongst each other.  Creator decided to send a great flood to wash away the evil and cleanse Mother Earth, for a new beginning.  

Oral teachings tell us of a time after this flood that Nanaboozho, (Grandmother) and the surviving animals searched for many days for land to begin again.  Finally, the Muskrat, swam to the greatest depths under the water, losing his life, and floated up to Nanaboozhoo with a handful of soil.  With no land to be seen far and wide, Nanaboozhoo asked all of the animals who would carry the new land and all of Creation.  After some time, the great Turtle offered its shell, and Turtle Island was created.  Then the Creator sent our Ancestors from the Stars to live in this new land on Turtle Island.    

These stories remind us that if we all work together in harmony, we can create a new world for life to flourish in a good way.  

We also believe that grandmother is also in the moon, and watches over the water, women and children.