The Singing Scoutmaster: Creation of Turtle Island

A long, long time ago, before the Earth had land like we know it, there was only water below and the Sky World above. The creatures of the air and water were the only ones living in this water world, while the Sky World was home to beings much like people. These beings had all kinds of plants and animals to enjoy, and in the middle of it all, there stood the great Tree of Life.

The Tree of Life was no ordinary tree. It stood at the entrance to the world below and was considered sacred. The people of the Sky World made a rule: no one was to touch it. But, as stories go, there was one woman who became curious. She was expecting a child and believed she would see something special if she could just look beneath the tree. So, she persuaded her brother to pull it up by its roots. No sooner had he done so, a great hole appeared under where the Tree of Life had stood.

The woman leaned over to look into the hole and lost her balance! She fell, grabbing at the edge, clutching a handful of the Sky World's earth. As she tumbled down, the birds flying below saw her falling and rushed to help. Hundreds of them gathered together, their wings flapping furiously to slow her fall. They gently carried her and placed her on the back of a great sea turtle.

The animals of the water world were puzzled. They had never seen anyone like her. How would she survive without solid land? They decided they needed to help her. So, they took turns diving to the bottom of the deep water, trying to find some earth. One after another, they failed—until it was the muskrat's turn. The muskrat dove deeper and deeper, almost losing his breath, but he surfaced with a small bit of earth held tight in his tiny paws. That little handful of soil was enough. They placed it on the turtle's back, and Turtle Island began to grow and grow, becoming the land where the Sky Woman would live.

In time, the Sky Woman gave birth to a daughter on this new land. The daughter grew quickly and flourished. There were no men on Turtle Island, but one day, the West Wind took a liking to her and became her companion. Soon, she too gave birth—not to one child, but to twins! The first twin was born normally, and they called him the Right-Handed Twin. But his brother, the Left-Handed Twin, was stubborn and came into the world in such a way that it cost their mother her life.

Their grandmother, Sky Woman, was heartbroken but determined to honor her daughter. She took the earth her daughter had grasped from the Sky World and placed it on her grave. From the earth, plants began to grow—plants that were unlike any other on Turtle Island. These were Sacred Tobacco, Strawberries, and Sweetgrass, known to the people as Kionhekwa—The Life Givers.

The twins grew up very differently. The Right-Handed Twin was good-natured and loved creating beautiful things like flowers, gentle hills, and animals that were kind and peaceful. His brother, the Left-Handed Twin, was mischievous and preferred to create things with a bit more bite, like snakes, thorns, and even thunderstorms. Together, they shaped the land and all its creatures.

But the twins didn't always get along. They argued and fought constantly because they couldn't agree on anything. The Right-Handed Twin wanted peace and harmony, while the Left-Handed Twin thought conflict was the way to solve problems. Their fights got so bad that when their Grandmother Sky Woman finally passed away, the twins argued over her too. In their struggle, they tore her apart, and her head flew up into the sky. To this day, it shines down on us as Grandmother Moon, watching over the world her family helped to create.

After that, the twins decided they couldn't live together anymore. The Right-Handed Twin chose to rule over the daylight, while the Left-Handed Twin took over the night. To this day, they continue their duties, keeping the world in balance. The Right-Handed Twin brings the sun each day, and the Left-Handed Twin watches over the night with his brother's creation, Grandmother Moon. So, whenever you see the moonlight, remember—it's a reminder of the story of the Sky Woman and the creation of our world.