Mshikék Gda Kowabmamen – We should watch over/protect turtles

mshikék gda kowabmamen

we should watch over / protect turtles

Eastern Box Turtle

ka

go

ra

po

m

Gëkéndasen, mi k

mim éwad wën odw

bade den, d n odë B wén

nb

and

l a n g ua g

ep

ro

g

Turtle Shell Key

There are 13 full moons each year and the kenak (turtle shell) represents the 13-month calendar. Starting with ktthė mko gizes (big bear moon [bear pictured]) and spiraling around the shell ending with bbon gizes (winter moon [snowflake pictured]).

1

ktthė mko gizes

Big bear moon

late Dec–early Jan

2

mko gizes

Bear moon

late Jan–early Feb

3

nmébné gizes

Trout moon

late Feb–early Mar

4

zisbakwtoké gizes

Maple sugar moon

late Mar–early April

5

zagbëgon gizes

Leaves sprouting moon

late April–early May

6

e’démen gizes

Strawberry moon

late May–early June

7

aptë nib gizes

Half summer moon

late June–early July

8

minké gizes

Blueberry picking moon

late July–early Aug

9

wzawbogya gizes

Leaves turning moon

late Aug–early Sept

10 bnakwi gizes

Falling Leaves moon

late Sept–early Oct

11 mtegwagké gizes

Forest moon

late Oct–early Nov

12 giwsé gizes

Hunting moon

late Nov–early Dec

13 bbon gizes

Winter moon

late Dec–early Jan

bodéwadmi kedwenen

Potawatomi words kenak turtle shell

Shkezh / shkezhik claw / claws

bastéké s/he is sitting in the sun

kat / kadén leg / legs

Wzëwanêk tail

bastékéwêk they are sitting in the sun

Zet / zedén foot / feet

Pronunciation Guide é as in apple | ë as in umbrella | ė as in elephant | e as in igloo | ê as in book | a as in octopus | i as in eagle | th sounds like j | tth sounds like ch

zisbakwtoké gizes maple sugar moon

people are making sugar turtles have awoken and are eating/looking for mates

bbon gizes

people are telling their stories

winter moon

turtles are preparing to sleep/sleeping

Moon Cycle

e’démen gizes strawberry moon

bgesawé she is laying eggs bgesawéwêk they are laying eggs

minké gizes

blueberry picking moon

baby turtles are emerging people are picking berries

wzawbogya gizes leaves turning moon

giwsé gizes

hunting moon

turtles are getting ready for winter

people are deer hunting

Importance of Turtles Turtles are important animals for conservation, because they live a long time and are a good indicator of long-term environmental stability.

Unfortunately many turtle populations are declining for multiple reasons, including over-harvest for food and medicine, predators that eat turtle eggs from their nests, habitat loss, and road mortality. Turtle populations take a long time to recover because they live so long and will only begin to recover after we stop the factors that caused them to decline.

azhowsé zhi myéwêk H/s is walking across the road. azhokné gda bgetthdabanawak gi mshikéyêk You guys should take the turtles to the other side of the road.

Turtles of the Great Lakes region

Mkenak

Mshiké

musk turtle

snapping turtle

Mskwakés painted turtle

Boskedo

eastern box turtle

Importance of Turtles

Mshiké, or the turtle, is a very important figure in our

culture. In the flood story the turtle sacrificed himself by allowing Nanabozho to place the dirt on his back to grow the land, plants and trees, thus creating “Turtle Island.” It is important we remember these things and pass them on to future generations to make sure that turtle gets the respect he deserves.

As well as being an important clan, mshiké is also part of the water clan system. The responsibilities that the turtle clan hold are to mediate situations and to teach the young ones. They mediate by intervening in altercations to better resolve the situation. Their responsibility to the youth involves teaching how to care for the earth and how to hold yourself with respect.

This booklet prepared by

Pokagon Band Department of Natural Resources and Department of Language & Culture Contributors Artwork Kyle Malott, turtle island illustration Jen Marcussen Photos Jen Goellnitz [Eastern Box turtle on front cover CC BY-NC], Wes Hicks [night sky center spread background Unsplash], Bruce Hallman [Snapping turtle pg. 6 CC BY 2.0 USFWS], Greg Schechter [Eastern Painted turtle pg. 6 CC BY 2.0], Dakota L. [Musk turtle pg. 6 CC BY-SA 3.0], Jim Lynch, NPS [Eastern Box turtle pg. 6 CC BY-SA 2.0], Donna Yarbrough [Snapping turtle background pg. 6 Unsplash], Jen Goellnitz [Snapping turtle pg. 6 CC BY-NC 2.0] This booklet and plush turtle were partially funded by a United States Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grant.