Indigenous legend: the original turtle, guardian of Mother Earth

🌊 Creation story: when everything was just ocean

Long ago, the world was nothing but an endless sea. Sky and water merged, and no place allowed life to take root. One day, a light descended from the sky: the Woman of the Sky, bearer of the breath of creation.

She fell gently towards the waves, carried by the birds, and found refuge on the back of a huge turtle.

🐢 The Birth of the Earth

The animals dove into the depths to retrieve some soil. The otter, the beaver, and the muskrat took turns. Only the smallest one came back up, exhausted, clutching a handful of mud between its paws.

The Sky Woman took this mud and placed it on the turtle's shell. Little by little, the land grew. Rivers began to flow, trees to grow, and animals found shelter. Thus was born Turtle Island, our Earth.

🌿 The thirteen moons and the cycle of life

The tortoise, a symbol of stability, bears thirteen plates on its shell, recalling the thirteen moons of a year.

Each step she takes is a breath of the world, a heartbeat of Mother Earth.

"Be patient like the tortoise, for it is in slowness that wisdom is born," the ancients used to say.

✨ Spiritual interpretation

The legend of the original turtle teaches that the world rests on balance, perseverance, and respect.

She reminds us that the Earth is alive, that it bears our steps and our mistakes, and that it is up to us to walk with gratitude.

🪶 FAQ

Q: What is the significance of the turtle in indigenous legends?

A: The turtle symbolizes Mother Earth, stability and wisdom. It represents the persistence of life despite storms.

Q: Why is Earth called Turtle Island?

A: In several Indigenous cultures of North America, it is believed that the Earth was formed on the back of a giant turtle.

Each legend awakens a part of the collective soul, just like works inspired by the territory.