These
monuments are patterns of significant events made of stones by the
aboriginal people who once lived here. Some of the monuments are
of humans, others animal figures. These effigies represent personal
or tribal tragedies; others represent the resting-place of a tribal
leader.
One
of the monuments in the Big
Muddy is the Turtle Effigy.
The head of the turtle faces southeast towards a human effigy. The
turtle has a face, ears, legs and a tail. In the center of the turtle
there are Chokecherries growing. In Dakota Black Foot legend, turtles
represented a wise and highly respected person.
![turtle effigy](big%20muddy%20pics/100-0863.jpg)
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