Turtle Island Tales

Home
Turtle Island Tales

Join us as we launch Turtle Island Tales, a place to share the ingredients for a healthy family, inc

23/01/2026

Looking for a fun indoor activity to keep little hands busy this January? Try this 3D Ladybug paper craft, a colorful, creative way to work on fine motor skills and spark storytelling through art!

Here’s what you’ll need:
🟥 Crayola red & black construction paper
👀 Googly eyes
✂️ Scissors
🧴 Crayola glue

Step-by-step:

1. Cut three red circles and fold each in half.
2. Cut two black strips (about 1/4" wide) to fit the red circle’s length.
3. Snip out small black circles for ladybug spots.
4. Create a round black head with antennas.
5. Glue the folded red circles together along the halves—it’ll pop into a 3D shape!
6. Add the black strips for wings and glue on the spots.
7. Finish by attaching the head and gluing on the googly eyes.

🖍️ Tip: Let kids customize their ladybugs, maybe it’s a rainbow bug or a whole ladybug family!

Igmu saw some of these adorable bugs popping up here in IG and knew they had to be shared! 🐞

21/01/2026

Cold winds calling? Warm up with a bowl of hearty Bison & Sweet Corn Soup!

Ingredients (serves ~4–6):

- 2 lbs (about 900g) stewing bison (cubed)
- 5 oz dried sweet corn or ~3–4 cups fresh/frozen kernels
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- Water (to cover)

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Prep the corn: If using dried sweet corn, soak in water overnight (or at least 4 hours), then drain.
2. Cook: In a large soup pot, combine soaked corn, cubed bison, salt, and enough water to cover.
3. Simmer: Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about 2½ hours — until the corn is tender and bison is meltingly soft.
4. Serve: Ladle into bowls and enjoy the warmth, perfect with a slice of crusty bread or cornbread. 🥖

What’s your favorite soup for chilly days? 🍲 Drop it below, we might feature it next! 👇

16/01/2026

To know love is to know peace.

As one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, LOVE (Zaagi’idiwin) calls us to care deeply for ourselves, for others, and for all of Creation. 💛

Love guides us to act with kindness, compassion, and generosity. It means showing care even when it’s hard, and remembering that we are all connected.

As this new year begins, may love lead our steps in family, in community, and in how we care for our own spirits.

💬 How will you carry love into this season?

14/01/2026

Igmu’s feeling the cold… and he’s dreaming of Rich Posole! 🍲

This hominy and chile stew is full of flavor, warmth, and tradition, just right for December nights.

✨ Ingredients

- 2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into chunks
- 6 cups cooked hominy
- 1 onion, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 dried guajillo chiles (soaked)
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salt to taste
- 8 cups broth or water

Optional toppings: cabbage, radish, lime, cilantro

✨ Steps

1. Brown pork; set aside.
2. Sauté onion and garlic.
3. Blend soaked chiles with water + cumin. Strain into pot.
4. Add pork, hominy, broth, and salt. Simmer 1.5–2 hrs.
5. Garnish and serve hot.
6. What toppings do you like on your Posole?

09/01/2026

Igmu spotted squash at the winter market and now he’s thinking about Three Sisters Stew. 🍲

This hearty stew celebrates the traditional planting of corn, beans, and squash known as the Three Sisters. A nourishing dish that connects us to land, legacy, and community this 2026!

✨ Ingredients

- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups cubed butternut squash
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
- 1 can (15 oz) white hominy or corn
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste

✨ Steps

1. Heat oil in a large pot. Sauté onion and garlic.
2. Add squash, beans, hominy/corn, and broth.
3. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper.
4. Simmer 25–30 minutes, or until squash is tender.
5. Serve warm and enjoy the flavors of tradition.

Do you cook with the Three Sisters at home? 🌽🫘🎃

07/01/2026

New year, warm start. 🍽️

Igmu’s ears perked up, someone’s flipping Johnny Cakes!

These golden corn cakes are perfect for welcoming 2026 with comfort and tradition. Whether you enjoy them sweet with a drizzle of maple or savory alongside soup or stew, Johnny Cakes bring warmth to chilly winter days.

✨ Ingredients

- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter or oil (for frying)

✨ Steps

1. Stir cornmeal, salt, and sugar (if using).
2. Add boiling water slowly; mix well.
3. Stir in milk to loosen the batter.
4. Heat butter/oil in a skillet. Drop spoonfuls of batter and flatten slightly.
5. Cook until golden on both sides, about 2–3 mins per side.

Soft inside, crisp outside, just how Igmu likes them.

How are you nourishing your new year?

31/12/2025

The colors came to life! During Igmu’s visit to a Wisconsin preschool, students turned their natural dyes into beautiful works of art each one as unique as the young artist who made it. 🎨

Using beets, spinach, turmeric, and berries, these little hands created colorful cloths and papers that told a story of connection to the land and to traditional ways of creating color from nature.

What would you create to celebrate the New Year? With natural dyes? A card? A cloth banner? Let us know below!

26/12/2025

Hi Turtle Island Friends!

Let's cook Wild Rice Pilaf, Igmu caught the scent of something delicious wild rice, simmered with herbs and winter veggies. It’s a cozy dish made for sharing.

✨ Ingredients

- 1 cup wild rice
- 2 ½ cups broth or water
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 carrot, diced
- ½ tsp thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: dried cranberries, chopped nuts

✨ Steps

1. Rinse rice. Cook in broth 40–50 mins.
2. Sauté onion, celery, and carrot until soft.
3. Stir veggies into rice, season, and fluff.
4. Add cranberries or nuts for a festive touch!

Would you serve this as a main or a side?

19/12/2025

As winter settles in and December brings a season of celebration and reflection, Igmu spent a cozy day at a Wisconsin preschool exploring the beauty of natural dyes. 🎨

Using beets, turmeric, spinach, and berries, students learned how everyday foods can create vibrant, plant-based colors just like our ancestors once did. 🌿

Let's make decorations for the holidays. Have you ever tried making your own natural dyes at home?

17/12/2025

Snowballs started flying!

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned snowball fight to shake off the cabin fever. It gets kids moving, laughing, and connecting with nature even in the cold!

🧤 Bundle up, head outside, and:

- Set up safe play zones
- Use gloves or mittens to keep hands warm
- Make gentle, soft-packed snowballs
- Try team games or a snowball target challenge!

Let the giggles be louder than the wind. 💨

Do your kids love snowball fights or do they just like making snow forts?

12/12/2025

Hi Turtle Island Friends!

Igmu is excited for Wild Rice Pudding!😋

Ingredients:

- 3 cups cooked wild rice
- 2 cups milk (or plant-based milk like almond or oat)
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 cup dried fruit (such as cranberries or raisins)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional: chopped nuts or seeds for topping

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cooked wild rice, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
2. Stir gently and bring to a low simmer.
3. Add dried fruit and continue simmering for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
5. Serve warm or chilled, topped with chopped nuts or seeds if desired.

10/12/2025

Hey Turtle Island Friends!

Igmu is feeling the holiday spirit and nothing makes him purr quite like the smell of warm, golden Fried Cornbread! ❄️

🌽 Ingredients:

- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup water (or milk)
- 1 egg (optional for fluffier texture)
- Oil for frying

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Add water (or milk) and egg if using. Stir until combined.
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil.
5. Fry until golden brown on each side about 2-3 minutes per side.
6. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

Do you like your fried cornbread plain, or do you dip it in something delicious? Let us know below! 👇

Address

Website

http://turtleislandtales.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Turtle Island Tales posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Turtle Island Tales:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic?

Country:

City: