In the beginning, the world was only water. The animals gathered, searching for a place where life could grow.
The Turtle stepped forward and said,
“Place the seed upon my back. I will carry life.”
From that seed, a tree sprouted — its roots reaching deep into Turtle’s wisdom, its branches stretching toward the sky.
Flowers bloomed with hope, fruits ripened with lessons, and birds came carrying ancestral songs.
Above all, the Eagle soared — guarding the tree with heart and vision.
This was more than a tree.
It became the bridge between earth, spirit, and sky — a living memory of balance and sacred connection.
And the land upon Turtle’s back was called Turtle Island — the heart of all life.
Source image: Emily Kewageshig
