Informative Essay
“The World on the Turtle´s Back” By Iroquois descent: Iroquois Connection with the
Natural World
Author: Leia
, Nature is everywhere , as we grow we are teached how important it is for every
living thing, we know that it provides for us; but have we stop to think how other
communities view it? The Iroquois creation story, “The World on the Turtle’s back,” is a
very intresting myth that connects the relationship of human beings to our natural world.
In the Iroquois culture, nature is one of the most sacred things to them. They believe
that all of its elements create a balance in the universe and for that, it should be
respected and praised. In this essay, we’ll give an inside about this strong connection
and how nature plays a key roll in this story.
When there was no creature, no land, no world, with the exception of a woman
and her husband; there was Sky-World where it grew a “Great Tree” this was not like
the other trees , it was enormous with different leaves , fruits and flowers. One day she
suddenly craved some bark from the Great Tree , the husband didn’t like the idea but he
had no other choice but to accomplish her wish. In Iroquois culture, trees are a
significant symbol used to interpret the connection of the sky and earth, representing a
bridge between the spirit world and the real one. They are also seen as sacred which
explains the DISLIKNESS of the husband about CUTTING it. According to a study on
the symbolism and spiritual values of trees in Iroquois culture (Schroeder, 1992), trees
are the symbol of an experience that is intangible. Some can symbolize immortality and
eternal life, unity and peace. So even though the tree is only mentioned in the
beggining, for the Iroquois it meant as if it was the opening door to another world full of
opportunies, a passage from one place to another.
“The World on the Turtle´s Back” By Iroquois descent: Iroquois Connection with the
Natural World
Author: Leia
, Nature is everywhere , as we grow we are teached how important it is for every
living thing, we know that it provides for us; but have we stop to think how other
communities view it? The Iroquois creation story, “The World on the Turtle’s back,” is a
very intresting myth that connects the relationship of human beings to our natural world.
In the Iroquois culture, nature is one of the most sacred things to them. They believe
that all of its elements create a balance in the universe and for that, it should be
respected and praised. In this essay, we’ll give an inside about this strong connection
and how nature plays a key roll in this story.
When there was no creature, no land, no world, with the exception of a woman
and her husband; there was Sky-World where it grew a “Great Tree” this was not like
the other trees , it was enormous with different leaves , fruits and flowers. One day she
suddenly craved some bark from the Great Tree , the husband didn’t like the idea but he
had no other choice but to accomplish her wish. In Iroquois culture, trees are a
significant symbol used to interpret the connection of the sky and earth, representing a
bridge between the spirit world and the real one. They are also seen as sacred which
explains the DISLIKNESS of the husband about CUTTING it. According to a study on
the symbolism and spiritual values of trees in Iroquois culture (Schroeder, 1992), trees
are the symbol of an experience that is intangible. Some can symbolize immortality and
eternal life, unity and peace. So even though the tree is only mentioned in the
beggining, for the Iroquois it meant as if it was the opening door to another world full of
opportunies, a passage from one place to another.
