This story was first told to the Western world by the Lenape Native American Tribe, mostly present-day Pennsylvania and the Northeastern part of the US. However, after additional contact was made across the continent with other native groups, it was made apparent that other tribes had a similar turtle story.
In the beginning, there was no land, only endless water. The Great Spirit, known to the Lenape as Kishelëmukong, decided to create a place where beings could live. High above the waters, in the sky realm, lived a beautiful woman named Müingwôsiak, the daughter of the Sky Chief.
One day, Müingwôsiak became very ill and was in need of healing herbs. The Sky Chief, concerned for his daughter, sought a remedy. In a vision, he was told that the herbs she needed were located beneath the great waters below the sky realm. With no land in sight, the Sky Chief knew he needed help to reach these herbs.
The animals of the sky realm were called upon to assist. The great birds and swimming creatures came forward, eager to help. Müingwôsiak, in her weakened state, was gently lowered from the sky by the birds and placed on the back of a great sea turtle who had volunteered to bear the weight of the land to come.
The turtle, with its powerful legs and strong shell, was capable of supporting the new world. The animals of the water then began their quest to bring up the soil from beneath the waters. Many tried and failed, but finally, a small muskrat succeeded, bringing a tiny bit of soil to the surface. This soil was placed on the back of the turtle. As the soil spread and grew, it formed an island – the first land, which became known as Turtle Island.
The turtle’s powerful legs dug into the ocean floor, stabilizing the growing landmass. As the island expanded, Müingwôsiak was placed on the new land, and with time and the blessings of the Great Spirit, she regained her health. Plants began to grow on the fertile soil, animals found their way to the new land, and the world as the Lenape knew it began to take shape.
From Müingwôsiak, life continued to spread across Turtle Island. She gave birth to twins, one representing good and the other representing mischievousness. Together, they populated the land with the first people, teaching them how to live in harmony with nature, to hunt, to gather, and to respect all living beings.
The turtle continues to hold the land on its back, a symbol of strength, perseverance, and the interconnectedness of all life. Its powerful legs remind the Lenape people of the stability and support that the Earth provides. The Lenape people, and many other tribes, honor the Great Turtle as the foundation of their world, and they pass down this creation story from generation to generation, reminding them of their origins and their place within the great web of life.
