Sky Woman and the Big Turtle: An Iroquois Creation Myth
mythicaL characters LittLe turtLe Creates the sun and the moon toaD Gathers the earth that grows into North America big turtLe sky woman A creature on whose back North America rests A woman who fell from the sky eviL-sPiriteD twin Creator of all that is bad gooD-sPiriteD twin Creator of all that is good
iNtroductioN This legend comes from the Iroquois people The Iroquois are also known as the Haudenosaunee or People of the Longhouse The Iroquois originally lived in the area now known as New York Iroquois legends are an important way for customs and histories to be passed down through the generations The Iroquois people would gather in longhouses and listen as elders told stories Sky Woman and the Big Turtle shows the Iroquois’s respect for animals and their important role in creating North America This legend is just one version of the Iroquois creation story It serves as a reminder of people’s connection to the world around them The story teaches the audience that he or she should take care of Earth 4
Long ago the first people lived in the sky as there was no Earth The Sky People were happy and content No one was ever sad and no one ever died 5
