John F. Duggan
Watching the basking turtles slipping warily one after the other into the water I had the sense that I was close to the native story of creation. The backs of the turtles were shaped like maps criss-crossed by river-like lines on the rounded shells. As far as I can tell, most of the turtles we saw are what are called the northern "map turtle".
Now my imagination takes me back to the time when the people who invented the canoe paddled these waters. For years now the canoe has been a "sacred" vehicle for me. When I get into the canoe, I slip away from the cares of my everyday life and into the luminous places of creation. The canoe is the perfect entrance into this world away from cars and trucks and noise, quiet and close to the water and little disturbance to the creatures who draw life here.
Godsome Moment #3: The Turtles of Turtle Island
John F. Duggan
Turtles!!! Cathy, Ruby the dog and I were out in the canoe in and around the Belleville marina. Just in front of the shoreline by the Ramada Inn there is a brakewater made up of old tires. As we drew closer, I caught a glimpse of something on top of the tires. "Oh-look at the turtles!" I said! 'Where?" Cathy asked and then a moment later she saw them too.
Turtles!!! Cathy, Ruby the dog and I were out in the canoe in and around the Belleville marina. Just in front of the shoreline by the Ramada Inn there is a brakewater made up of old tires. As we drew closer, I caught a glimpse of something on top of the tires. "Oh-look at the turtles!" I said! 'Where?" Cathy asked and then a moment later she saw them too.
There must have been well over100 turtles basking in the sun.
As we paddled closer, I recalled reading about North America as Turtle Island. A native elder had told the creation story about the land being built on the back of a great turtle. A child listening asked the logical question: What is below the turtle? The elder had answered: "It's turtles all the way down."
As we paddled closer, I recalled reading about North America as Turtle Island. A native elder had told the creation story about the land being built on the back of a great turtle. A child listening asked the logical question: What is below the turtle? The elder had answered: "It's turtles all the way down."
Watching the basking turtles slipping warily one after the other into the water I had the sense that I was close to the native story of creation. The backs of the turtles were shaped like maps criss-crossed by river-like lines on the rounded shells. As far as I can tell, most of the turtles we saw are what are called the northern "map turtle".
Now my imagination takes me back to the time when the people who invented the canoe paddled these waters. For years now the canoe has been a "sacred" vehicle for me. When I get into the canoe, I slip away from the cares of my everyday life and into the luminous places of creation. The canoe is the perfect entrance into this world away from cars and trucks and noise, quiet and close to the water and little disturbance to the creatures who draw life here.
Even so, the sight of so many of these turtles is a surprise and a gift.
It wasn't so long ago that the mouth of the Moira river was the home of the Mississauga Ojibway. Was it only last year that there was a money settlement of a land claim that took in most of downtown Belleville?
This coming Monday June 20 at 10 a.m. Cathy, Ruby the dog and I will be on Parliament Hill to unfurl a banner as KAIROS gathers us to show our support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada has finally signed on to the Declaration and the effort now is to generate public support so that the promise of the Declaration will be fulfilled in the lives of our Aboriginal peoples. We have received so much from these ancestors who lived so close to the earth on Turtle Island.
It wasn't so long ago that the mouth of the Moira river was the home of the Mississauga Ojibway. Was it only last year that there was a money settlement of a land claim that took in most of downtown Belleville?
This coming Monday June 20 at 10 a.m. Cathy, Ruby the dog and I will be on Parliament Hill to unfurl a banner as KAIROS gathers us to show our support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada has finally signed on to the Declaration and the effort now is to generate public support so that the promise of the Declaration will be fulfilled in the lives of our Aboriginal peoples. We have received so much from these ancestors who lived so close to the earth on Turtle Island.
Meegsha! (Ojibway word meaning Amen!)
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