In this episode, we take a closer look at the Haudenosaunee people’s vision behind The Turtle and why its creation was such a powerful act of cultural self-determination. You’ll explore how the building’s design connects to the Haudenosaunee creation story and what it symbolized for the community at the time. Together, we’ll reflect on how architecture can carry meaning, identity, and resilience across generations.

Cities

Sustainable cities and communities

Inequality

Reduced inequalities

Global Partnerships

Partnerships for the goals

The Turtle, a cultural center in Niagara Falls designed by Arapaho architect Dennis Sun Rhodes and Tuscarora sculptor Duffy Wilson, was built on the Haudenosaunee creation story of the world resting on a turtle’s back. From the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, it served as the largest Indigenous arts center in the Eastern U.S., hosting Pow Wows, exhibitions, and thousands of cultural artifacts. This series explores the Haudenosaunee’s fight for cultural self-determination, the architectural and symbolic significance of The Turtle, and the importance of preserving spaces that safeguard Indigenous history and identity.

Friends of the Niagara Turtle   

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