Children, come and sit, so that we might begin. The story is from a time when the world was young, when the animal human had forgotten the ways of the Creator.   The Creator had become angered with the evil foolish ways of the animal human. So the Creator sent a great flood, that the face of Mother Earth might be cleansed of this evil.

    The only things that survived the flood were the plants and animal of the water and air. Time pasted slowly for these beings as they were lonesome for their human companions with whom they had once shared Mother Earth. They asked a good woman that lived in the sky to come down and live with them. Sky Woman agreed, for she was along, pregnant and lonely, too. She ask that the creatures provide her a place to live.

    Turtle offered his back for her dwelling place, but she didn't want to deprive him of his freedom. The creatures agreed that Turtle's back would be used, and that mud would be brought up to form the land. First the Winged ones tried to dive deep enough to bring up the mud, each one failed. Then Otter, Muskrat and Spider tried to bring up the mud. Each creature tried to retrieve the mud from the bottom of the sea, until it was Crayfish's turn. Crayfish dove, swimming mightily towards the bottom. He was about to give up when he struck the soft mud. Quickly gathering a small ball of mud under his tail, he returned to the surface. Again and again Crayfish made the journey to the bottom of the sea, until there was enough mud for Sky Woman to work her magic.

    Sky Woman took the mud and began to spread it onto Turtle's back. After the mud was spread she began to sing a creation song, as the last notes faded into nothingness. The mud had been transformed into an island, under which Turtle could swim. All the creatures agreed that the island was a good thing, but the mud was too wet for Sky Woman to walk upon. The Winged ones decided to dry out the mud, each in turn tried to dry the mud. All failed until it was Buzzard's turn. As he flew over the mud the tips of his winds would strike the mud forming mountains and hills. Water began to flow from the mountains forming the rivers, streams and lakes. When Buzzard returned the mud had been dried, so that Sky Woman could walk upon the ground.

    At that time a tree existed in the sky kingdom that grew a great variety of fruits. Sky Woman took one seed from the tree and placed it onto the ground. The seed took root and provided nourishment for Sky Woman and her offspring.

    Such is the children's tale about Turtle Island. To this day Native American still call  the "New World" Turtle Island. As a point to ponder when the first U S astronauts circled Mother Earth they agreed that the shape of North America looked like a turtle.