GREAT TURTLE
A Native American Legend

Many moons ago, when the earth was covered with water,
Great Turtle ruled over all the animals.

One day Great Turtle saw a woman and a tree fall from the sky.

Two swans swam to the rescue of the woman.

Great Turtle knew the woman and the tree could not survive in the water. He asked otter, beaver and muskrat to dive to the bottom of the ocean and bring back some mud for the woman and tree to live on.

Otter, beaver and muskrat could not dive that deep. Finally, toad brought up some mud. Great Turtle told toad to place the mud on the back of his shell.

The mud was magical. It grew larger and larger until it formed an island on the back of Great Turtle and the swans placed the woman and the tree on the island.

The island continued to grow and soon it became Great Turtle Island. We now call Great Turtle Island our world!