Turtles have always been a part of my life. I was fascinated by them when I was
young and began studying, feeding, and watching them. As I have grown older, I am still
surprised at the varied personalities that each of them possesses. I now have an extended
family of turtles that live in my yard and, more precisely, under my concrete patio slab.
I have no idea how large the "home" of the turtles is because there are only two small
holes for them to come and go. Every spring 1 always look forward to the new arrivals
that appear.
 
The turtle has always played a positive role in the stories of many of the Native
American tribes. In many of the tribes, the turtle is a symbol that signifies wisdom,
spirituality, good health and longevity. The hardness of the shell of the turtle represents
perseverance and protection. The turtle is often considered a sacred figure and is used as
a symbol for Mother Earth. This symbolism comes from the many Native American
legends that believe the Great Spirit created their homeland by placing earth on the back
of a giant turtle. This is why some refer to North America by the title "Turtle Island”.
 
I have heard and read many stories about the turtle, but the one that is most prevalent is
the Creation Story. However, there are several variations of this story, and 1 will tell you
the one that I chose in order for you to know why my vessel is named "The Chosen
Ones".
 
The Lakota Creation Story is the one that I chose because it honors the turtle for
saving mankind from the Great Flood. It is told something like this.
 
After the world was destroyed by water, there was only one crow that survived. The
crow became so tired from flying that he pleaded with the Great Spirit to make hima 
place on which he might rest. There was no land, only very deep water from the great
flood. The Great Spirit thought about this and decided that maybe it was time to make
a new world with animals and people. From his huge pipe bag, which contained all types
of animals and birds, he chose four that were known for their swimming ability and the
ability to hold their breath for long periods of time. He told them he wanted them to try
and gather mud from the floor beneath the floodwaters. One was a loon, which tried but
could not hold its breath long enough to reach the mud, next the otter, with its webbed
feet that made him such a good swimmer. He too failed. The beaver was next with its
large, flat tail that helped him dive so deep, but he also failed to reach the bottom. The
turtle was chosen next, and he was under the water for a very long time, so long in fact
that they thought he might have drowned. But, to their surprise, the turtle surfaced and
was covered in mud. The Great Spirit took the mud in his hands and shaped it into a
very small island on top of the water. Then he shook two long eagle wing feathers over
the small island of mud to spread it out and make a new Mother Earth. After it dried, he
made the people from the four colors of the Earth and covered the land with all of the
birds and animals that he had in his pipe bag. He told them of the other world that was
destroyed by the great flood and why, and gave them the sacred pipe and said he wanted
them to respect his teachings.
 
So, as you can see, the turtle was "chosen" for this task, and he completed it, allowing
the animals and people to have a new Mother Earth. On my vessel, you will see turtles of
all kinds going to the bottom to retrieve the mud and then carrying it back up to complete
the island on top of the vessel. If you look closely at the bottom, you will see the mud
, and then again on top of the vessel, it is also. This is my way of honoring "The
Chosen Ones".