This Iroquois creation myth describes how the natural world was formed: 1) A pregnant woman fell from the sky and clutched roots, spreading plant seeds across the earth. 2) Animals like muskrats gathered dirt to help the growing land. 3) The woman walked as the sun moves, ritual dances marking the earth's growth. 4) Twins representing truth and lies were born, and their conflicts led to the ordering of the sky and night.

1. “World on the Turtle’s Back”
an Iroquois Creation Myth

2. DO NOW: Read pg. 32 and 33. What did
you learn about the Iroquois? In your own
words, what is a creation myth?
Creation Myth: story of
origin, explains how the
natural world works,
reflects social customs
and traditions, serves as
a guide/teaches lessons,
involves supernatural
beings or events

3. Why are people so eager to
understand the origin of their world?

4. Cause and Effect Relationships
Cause Effect
• Pregnant woman wants • Husband makes a hole, she
forbidden roots falls
• Falling, she clutches at roots • Seeds in her fingernails
• Muskrat gets dirt from the • Woman plants seeds and
ocean bottom grows plants
• Woman walked as the sun • Earth grew (origin of ritual
moves dances)
• Arrows – one sharp, one blunt • Birth of twins – truth and lies
• Unnatural birth • Mother dead
• Animals molded out of clay • Competition – prey and
predators
• Duels • Ruler of the Sky (victor) and
• Grandma is killed Ruler of Night and Shadows
• Her head becomes the moon

5. Balance
• Meat eaters and
vegetarians
• Medicine and disease
• Population control
• World needs “good” and
“evil” to function properly
Why did the “evil” twin create medicine?
Why did the “good” twin kill his brother
and grandmother?
Nothing is ALL “good” or ALL “evil”; people are a
mix of good and bad.

6. Re-read the first three paragraphs. How is this
myth similar to and different from other myths
you’ve heard.? Details.

7. Lines 46-62. Consider the role that “all
creatures” play in this myth.
What does this suggest about the Iroquois’
attitude toward nature?
• Nature helps and
supports the woman
•Animals are wise and
resourceful
•Nature is revered and
respected
•Woman takes care of
nature and ensures that
plants grow

8. Symbolism
• The Great Tree – tree of life/growth and
knowledge, roots/ancestry, they reach in the
earth and toward the sky (links all life), bridge
between heaven and earth, wisdom
• Twins – balance; NOT good and evil, but right
and left
• Woman – Mother Earth
Do you know of any important mythological trees
or twins from other cultures?

9. What did you learn about Iroquois
beliefs and culture?
• World needs balance
• Respect for nature
• See themselves as part of
nature, not superior to it
(circle of life)
• Nature is sacred
Why do you think the • The ocean – always
grandmother preferred existed; eternal and
the left handed twin? godlike; unknown

10. Is this an effective creation myth?
Does it explain everything? Which
parts were interesting? Why?