Turtle Guardian of Hopi
The Turtle Kachina is one of the many katsinam of Hopi tradition, spirit beings impersonated in ceremonies and carved as dolls to bring rain, health and blessings; turtle imagery in the Pueblo world carries associations of earth, longevity and protection. Museum collections document the Hopi Turtle Kachina. A specific 'guardian of lakes' role, however, is not attested in Hopi sources.