Curriculum Materials: Art in America
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Image 14 Lakota Questions: |
The Turtle
The turtle is an important SYMBOL for the Lakota because of its role in their creation story. This story explains that the Creator needed an animal to dive to the bottom of the waters and bring up some mud so that the earth could be created. Of all the animals, only the turtle succeeded in doing so. The mud she carried upon her back formed the earth.
Many Lakota consider the turtle
to be a special protector of women and children. Women are
associated with the turtle because they have the power of
creating life. Lakota women aspire
to be like the turtle-resilient and long-lived. They bead
turtle designs onto their dresses and accessories, as well
as on cradleboards and protective
AMULETS for baby
girls.
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