The Keeper of Time
Before the cities rose and the rivers were tamed, there was only the Earth and the Sky — and between them moved the Turtle.
She was not always slow. The Elders say she was once a quiet spirit, born from the stillness of the deep waters, who longed to carry the stories of the world upon her back. So the Great Spirit answered her wish, wrapping her in a shell of ancient wisdom and patience.
When the People first saw Turtle, they did not rush to catch her. They watched. They listened. And Turtle, too, listened to them — their laughter, their tears, their silent prayers.
Over time, they learned each other’s rhythm. Not as owner and servant, but as guardians. Turtle gave the People time — the gift of endurance, of steady healing. The People gave Turtle respect — to protect, to honor, to remember.
She became the quiet heart of the land.
They painted her shell with sacred symbols before journeys, whispered blessings into her slow steps. She carried the weight of seasons, the rise and fall of generations.
Even now, when the wind carries the scent of rain and earth, some say they see her — the ancient traveler with a shell etched by time, moving softly beneath the endless sky.
Her name among the People is Gátȟoǧe — The Keeper of Time.
But to the Earth, she is known simply as:
The One Who Carries Healing.
