The Legend of Grandmother Turtle
In one of the creation stories told by the Cheyenne, neighbors of
the Lakota, before people lived on the earth it was covered by water.
The Creator wanted to use mud from under the water to make solid
ground, but needed a place to put the mud on top of the water. Turtle
rose to the top of the water to carry the mud that became earth.
To this day, turtles walk very slowly because they carry the weight
of the world on their backs. Some Native Americans refer to the
earth as Turtle Island. |