Grandmother Turtle, so the story goes, was the savior of the First People: By virtue of her strong, hard shell, she was the only animal who could hold them, dry and safe, in this new world after they emerged from the depths of the old one. It’s a beautiful story, and one that gave rise to our name for these lands: Turtle Island.
But it’s a story with multiple layers of meaning, too. To me, one of the most important lessons of the story is the one that is never said overtly, but comes through clearly throughout the telling.
You see, when one of the Spirit Beings was tasked with finding a way to keep the First People, who walked on two legs and would not survive the transition through the deep waters of this world, alive and safe, he did not go to Turtle.
He called all the animals together and explained the predicament, and asked who among them could help save The People. He expected volunteers from among the most powerful animals, and was not disappointed: Bear; Wolf; even Hell-Diver, who, as a water bird, might have been expected to succeed.
The situation became increasingly fraught, with much chatter among the animals, who became increasingly competitive in hopes of being selected for this charge from the spirits. But none of them possessed the qualities and skills necessary to this one task. Always, some element was missing, and it was clear that the First People would not survive.
Suddenly, beneath the din, a soft, calm voice spoke up, quietly and modestly. “I can protect the First People,” said Grandmother Turtle.
The bigger, stronger, flashier animals laughed. “You? You’re small and insignificant. You crawl upon the earth.”
“I can hold them on my strong, sturdy shell,” Grandmother Turtle replied. “There they will stay safe and dry, close to the waters they need to survive.”
The Spirit Being halted the chatter among the animals. Acknowledging that she was right, he gave to Turtle the charge of protecting the First People. Ever since, it is she who carries our world on her back.
And that is how our world came to be called “Turtle Island.”
It is also a reminder that no one, and nothing, is insignificant.
We all have a role to play, a way to be of service to our communities, a larger purpose to fulfill. We may not be what our world considers “important”: not physically flashy, nor especially strong, nor possessed of great power. We may have no material wealth, nor status as leaders. But that does not mean that we do not have something to offer, something fundamental, essential to the well-being of our peoples. The key is in listening, and when the opportunity presents itself, having the courage to take it.
It’s a lesson embodied in this little piece, an old one from Wings’s personal collection, the name of the carver long since lost to memory. Considering the materials used, the carving style, and general time frame in which he acquired it, we believe it was created by an artisan from one of the Northern Pueblos. From its description in the Other Artists: Fetishes Gallery here on the site:
Grandmother Turtle carries an offering bundle of gifts from the soil and sea: beads of stone and shell over an arrow of jet, accented with tiny macaw feathers and tied onto her strong back with sinew. She arises out of piece of golden-yellow sandstone, striations from centuries of exposure to water flowing down her shell. Artist unknown; measures 3″ long by 2-1/8″ across (dimensions approximate).
Sandstone; jet; turquoise; coral; shell; feathers; sinew
$65 + shipping, handling, and insurance
In this case, it really does look as though she has arisen from the very sands beneath the sea itself, each grain coming together, aggregating into a new and compound physical form, one inspirited with life in a new way and to new purpose. And while she embodies the old story of our peoples to the North, she likewise manifests the ancient power and tradition of our peoples here in the Southwest, with the medicine bundle she carries on her back.
Like her namesake, she emanates power of the soft, subtle, quiet, unassuming kind. But pick her up, and you feel the elemental strength in the rendering: The sandstone is smooth and cool to the touch, but held in your hand a moment, it warms rapidly. The delicate bits of the natural world that her bundle comprises are things of beauty in themselves, but constitute a greater and more powerful than the sum of their parts.
Much like Grandmother Turtle herself, who probably never envisioned that she would save an entire species, nor that she would be honored for eternity, her name given to an entire land.
~ Aji
All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2014; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owners.
