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Sky Woman (and Turtle Island), a MythSource painting
North American

Sky Woman (and Turtle Island)

01Identity

Sky Woman (and Turtle Island) in North American tradition

Sky Woman falls through the hole left by a tree into a world covered by water. The animals below see her falling and decide to make land for her. Many dive beneath the waters in search of earth, but only Muskrat succeeds, and Muskrat dies while completing the dive. The animals use the earth Muskrat brings up to make land on Turtle's back. Flying creatures form a huge net, catch the falling woman, and carry her safely to the new earth. Sky Woman arrives with her daughter, fire, and the knowledge later described as the art taught to the people. The complete sequence centres on her fall, the animals' rescue, and her safe landing.

SourceCreation Myths of the World: Parts I-II: Onondaga

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The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Sky Woman (and Turtle Island)

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Sky Woman and the Earth Divers

Sky Woman was thrown through the hole left by the tree, and Zephyrs went down with her into the world below. She fell for a long time and saw nothing beneath her but water. The animals in that watery world noticed the falling woman and decided that they must make land for her. Their work began with a series of dives. Many animals tried to reach the earth below the waters, but none succeeded.

Muskrat was the one animal that managed to dive down and bring earth back up. Muskrat died in the process, but the earth it carried gave the other animals what they needed. They placed the earth on Turtle's back and made land there. The flying creatures then formed themselves into a huge net. As Sky Woman continued falling, the birds caught her in the net and carried her safely to the new earth. The rescue joined the animals' dives, Muskrat's sacrifice, Turtle's back, and the flying creatures' net into one path from water to land. Sky Woman reached that land safely with her daughter and fire. The sequence ends at her arrival on the new earth, before the later description of teaching the people begins.

Sky Woman and the Earth Divers, a MythSource painting of the scene

1 source· checked 2026-09-22

  1. 1Creation Myths of the World: Parts I-IIT1