Sun gender in Turtle Island mythology

In the mythologies of Turtle Island (a term many Indigenous peoples use for North America), the gender of the Sun is often female, though this can vary by nation and tradition.

Female Sun Deities

• Cherokee (Unelanuhi): In Cherokee mythology, the Sun is explicitly a goddess named Unelanuhi, meaning “the all-maker” or “the apportioner.” She is revered as a nurturing, life-giving force, responsible for bringing light, warmth, healing, and the division of time. Unelanuhi is sometimes called “Grandmother Sun,” reflecting her status as a wise, sustaining elder. Her story is central to Cherokee spirituality, and she is honored with offerings and rituals^[1].
• Other Nations: Several other Indigenous groups across Turtle Island also personify the Sun as female. For example, in some Miwok and Inuit traditions, the Sun is a woman, and the Moon is her male counterpart.

Creation Myths and the Sun

• Iroquois/Haudenosaunee: In the Iroquois creation story, Sky Woman is a central figure who falls to the newly formed earth (Turtle Island) and gives birth to twins who shape the world. After creating the land, Sky Woman herself creates the sun and the moon, though the gender of the Sun is not always specified in these versions^[2][3].
• Lenape and Huron: Some stories focus more on the cosmological roles of animals and spirits (such as the World Turtle) and describe celestial events like eclipses in mythic terms, but do not always specify the Sun’s gender^[4].

Symbolism and Cultural Context

The frequent depiction of the Sun as female in Turtle Island mythologies is closely tied to the Sun’s nurturing, life-giving qualities—paralleling the roles of women as mothers and caretakers in many Indigenous cultures. The Sun’s daily journey and its essential role in the cycles of nature are often seen as feminine attributes, associated with fertility, healing, and the continuity of life^[1].

Summary Table

Nation/Tradition	Sun Deity Name	Gender	Notes
Cherokee	Unelanuhi	Female	Sun goddess, healer, creator, “Grandmother Sun”
Iroquois/Haudenosaunee	Created by Sky Woman	Unspecified	Sun created by a female figure (Sky Woman)
Miwok, Inuit, others	Varies	Female	Sun often depicted as a woman
Lenape, Huron	Not personified	—	Sun’s gender not specified in some traditions

In summary:
In many Turtle Island mythologies, the Sun is depicted as female, especially in traditions like the Cherokee, where she is a revered goddess and creator. This reflects the Sun’s nurturing, sustaining role in Indigenous cosmologies and highlights the diversity of gender associations across different nations^[1][2][3][4].

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• https://mythlok.com/unelanuhi/   
• https://www.cs.williams.edu/~lindsey/myths/myths_12.html  
• https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/turtle-island  
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Turtle