The Native American turtle has a significant place deep in the
heart of Native American culture. Throughout history, the turtle has been regarded
as mythical, symbolical and sacred. It’s been embedded in several stories and among several
tribes. The
Native American turtle and its various meanings are still very much alive today, especially
in art.
The Native American turtle has a lot of meanings. The turtle, a water animal,
is a symbol for strength, fertility and perseverance. It was considered a power
fetish animal. It was believed to have the ability to defy death.
The turtle was part of communication between tribes. The Great Plains people
regarded the turtle as a symbol of a meaningful and long life. Not all tribes
used the same symbols, but they often communicated using languages to portray a
central idea.
The Native American turtle was a symbol of truth as well. It is believed that
knowing the truth means understanding and staying loyal to all the fundamental
laws of the Creator. It is believed that the Grandmother Turtle was present when
the Creator gave man the 7 sacred laws. The Grandmother Turtle was there to make
sure that the sacred laws would not be forgotten or vanish.
The back of the Turtle consisted of the 13 moons, which portrayed the truth
of a single cycle of the Earth’s revolution around the sun. There are also 28
marks on the back, portraying the woman’s body and cycle of the moon. The shell
itself portrays the actual happenings of the body and is also there to remind
people of the Creator’s plan and teachings.
As one can see, the Native American turtle is very much embedded in age-old
folk tales. It was believed that the earth itself was born on the Turtle’s back.
Because the turtle carries its home atop its back, it is believed that the
turtle could brave through very difficult situations. The turtle was essentially
regarded as a symbol of protection.
There was a Cherokee story about a race between a rabbit and turtle. They
both wanted to win the race, and they raced through valleys and hills. Atop
every hill, a new turtle would show up. The new turtle would then continue the
race. Because there was only one rabbit and several turtles that each continued
the race along every hill, the rabbit lost and the turtle won!
The Native Americans made symbols out of animals and used them in moral
stories. A life of sharing and contributing to nature was very important to
them. They had great respect for animals and nature itself.
What made turtles very special in Native American culture was their unique
characteristics. They had a very different physical form compared to other
animals. They are comparatively very slow when they travel, but are well
protected and live a fairly long life.
In Native American tradition, every animal has natural powers and unique
characteristics that can assist its owner. The Native American turtle was a
symbol of the people’s spirit and often expressed in oral stories and songs.
Today, it is present in pecked designs on rocks, basketry and pottery.
