Turtle Island

“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”

Gary Snyder

I’ve discovered a perfect place to turtle-watch. Over the course of my visits, I’ve counted as many as seven turtles – seven! – lined up and ordered according to size, on this moss-covered log. Of course, by the time I get close and pull up my camera to capture the scene, several have slid soundlessly into the marshy lake or plopped unceremoniously into the water with a splash. No matter. There is joy in simply sitting at a distance, reflecting on the steadfast turtle … an ancient symbol of life and earth.

For some Indigenous peoples, Turtle Island refers to the continent of North America. Indigenous oral histories tell numerous variations of a creation story in which a turtle holds the world on its back.

The Ojibwe version of the story begins when the Creator floods the Earth because of fighting among the people. Only a few animals survive, along with a supernatural being named Nanabush, who stays afloat on a log.

Surrounded by water, Nanabush decides he must dive into the depth to collect soil to create a new world. However, he soon discovers that the water is too deep; try as he might, he’s unable to reach the bottom. The Loon and the Turtle each take a turn diving, but they too fail to reach the bottom. Then, the little Muskrat offers to try. He’s underwater for such a long time, the others are sure he has drowned. Finally, he resurfaces, but it’s clear that he is weak and dying. As the Muskrat breathes his last breath, Nanabush notices that the small animal is clutching something in his paw. It is wet soil that he has bravely brought up from the bottom of the water.

The Turtle comes forward to offer his strong back – he will carry the earth that Muskrat gave his life to collect. Nanabush puts the ball of mud on Turtle’s back. With the help of the winds and the Creator, the soil blows, spreads outward, and eventually grows to became Turtle Island.

Addendum: It was only after I posted this essay on May 22nd that I learned World Turtle Day® is celebrated on May 23rd each year. How’s that for synchronicity and some impressive turtle energy?