The turtle is a very important symbol for the Huron-Wendats. It represents Mother Earth, wisdom and perseverance.
In the name of the Huron-Wendat nation, the word Wendat means “inhabitants of an island”. One legend says that the Earth is in fact a turtle’s back. This explains why the Huron-Wendat call North America “Turtle Island” and why they made the turtle their totemic symbol.
The legend of the creation of the world according to the Huron-Wendats says that humans and animals used to live above the clouds. One day, a woman fell from the sky and landed on the back of a turtle that was swimming in the middle of a large body of water. This woman stayed on the turtle’s back, planting a tree and other plants there. Then she had twins, who started the population of the Earth.