Turtle
Ho Chunk · deity · soteriological spirits · Recorded classification
Turtle (Kecągega) is one of the culture-hero spirits Earthmaker sent down to rescue humanity, counted among the canonical Hare-cycle series. Earthmaker told him, 'You are going to make the earth good, Turtle,' and gave him a knife; but on reaching the earth Turtle turned to war rather than to the ordering of creation, so Earthmaker recalled him, as he had Trickster and Bladder. Despite this failure Turtle remains a popular and heroic warrior-spirit throughout Ho-Chunk narrative, the patron of warlike valor.
Domains
- war
Relations
- created by: EarthmakerMade by Earthmaker, given a knife, and sent to make the earth good.Dieterle, Encyclopedia of Hočąk Mythology, 'Earthmaker Creates the World and Gives Turtle and Hare Their Missions' (secondary)
Sources
- existence: Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (1923) (secondary); Richard L. Dieterle, Encyclopedia of Hočąk Mythology, 'Turtle' / 'Turtle Spirits' (secondary)