In Oneida tradition, before there was land, the world was covered by water. When Sky Woman fell from the Sky World, birds rose to meet her and gently placed her on the back of a great Turtle. The Turtle offered its shell as a place of safety and balance.

The animals of the water dove deep to bring soil from the depths. At last, muskrat emerged with a small amount of earth, which was placed upon the Turtle’s back. From this earth, the land began to grow, spreading outward until it became Turtle Island — the world as it is known today.

The sun watches over this new world, bringing light, warmth, and the rhythm of time. Its presence sustains all life, guiding the seasons and the growth of the land upon the Turtle’s back. Together, Turtle and Sun embody creation, endurance, and the sacred balance that holds the world in place.