The Turtle blanket recognizes the Iroquois Confederacy: the Oneida, Seneca, Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga and Tuscarora Nations. The Turtle design is a representation of the Iroquois Creation legend. Long ago, the earth was covered with deep water and there were no people. According to stories, the birds saw Skywoman fall from the sky. As she fell, she grabbed the roots of a tree from heaven. The birds spread their wings together to save her. Only the Turtle was strong enough to hold her, so they placed her on the turtle’s back. There she planted the roots; and as her garden grew, Turtle grew in size first becoming a large island, then finally North America, known as Turtle Island.