The 13 moons on the back of the turtle

Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe tribes of Ontario have always been Dependents on their natural environment for survival.

Aboriginal people have a very special relationship with nature Aboriginal people have a very special relationship with nature. They belong to nature. They see themselves as a small piece of our larger environment. They believe that nature is a gift from the Great Spirit Creator.

“Humankind has not woven the web of life “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” Chief Seattle, January 1854

The 13 segments represent the 13 moons of a lunar year. Aboriginal people share the idea of "13 moon on the back of the turtle." Looking at the segments on the shell of a turtle, there are 13 large segments. The 13 segments represent the 13 moons of a lunar year.

If there are smaller segments that surround the shell, there are 28 If there are smaller segments that surround the shell, there are 28. These small segments represent the number of days between new moons.

Each of the 13 moons has a different name Each of the 13 moons has a different name. Each moon is associated with a season in which it appears.