Sea turtle
The Iroquois of the Great Lakes region tell a myth about the beginning of time and the creation of the continent of North America…
There was water everywhere, in which creatures such as beaver, duck, and muskrat lived. Aataensic, the mother of humankind, fell slowly from the sky with the first people in her womb. All the creatures tried to retrieve bit of earth, from the depths of the water, on which she could land. Muskrat was able to bring to the surface a clod; which was placed on turtle’s back just in time.
Aataensic landed safely and brought humankind into being, while turtle supported the growing earthen clod on his back. There the world rests. When turtle moves, he creates great waves and earthquakes. Today, Native Americans still refer to North and South America as Turtle Island.