Turtle Rattles
Turtle rattles have been used in ceremonies for over five hundred years in North America (Turtle Island) among First Nations people. Among Haudenosaunee culture this is a powerful healing symbol and is carried within healing societies.
The turtle holds sacred and symbolic meaning in Haudenosaunee culture for it is the turtle who offered his back for refuge to the Skywoman falling from the Skyworld to make what is known as Turtle Island. The turtle shell is also utilized as a lunar calendar for the inner plates represent the thirteen lunar months and the outer plates represent the 28 days of the month.