Project 57 Week 16: Why do we call North America “Turtle Island”?

Using the phrase “Turtle Island” when referring to North America comes from Creation or Origin Stories of several Nations (Manitowabi, 2018), and it is also used by Indigenous rights activists” (The Canadian Encyclopedia). “Turtle Island” is part of a “larger creation story where the turtle supports life” as the earth and embodies the world, it symbolizes life and “relates to spiritual beliefs about creation” (Manitowabi, 2018). The image of the “turtle supporting all life” is an “emblem of respect for the environment” and a “symbol of autonomy” (The Canadian Encyclopedia). 

The creation story of Turtle Island is an origin story and varies among Indigenous communities, however each emphasizes the turtle as the symbol of life and earth (The Canadian Encyclopedia). Deadly Storyexplains that the story begins at a time “when the planet was covered in water”, “different animals all tried to swim to the bottom of the ocean to bring back dirt to create land, but they all failed”. The last animal left was the “muskrat” who “swam deep and remained under water for a long time” but finally “resurfaced with some wet soil on its paws”. Even though the muskrat lost its life after this effort, “Nanabush (a supernatural being who has the power to create life) took the soil and placed it on the back of turtle”. This action led to the formation of land and earned the name Turtle Island (Deadly Story).  

To learn more about Turtle Island please check out these resources:  

• Turtle Island: The Story of North America's First People by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
• Canadian Encyclopedia entry on Turtle Island
• The Creation Story chapter from the ECampusOntario Pressbook: "Historical and Contemporary Realities: Movement Towards Reconciliation" 
• Native Art in Canada . com
• There are many videos about the Turtle Island creation story, here is one example: Haudenosaunee Creation Story.