Reading of Blue Panther's stories/legends reminds me to ask the significance, if any, of giving the gift of a turtle, a beautifully carved turtle that looks very real. I met a Cherokee male on his way to perform in Pow-Wow. We struck up a conversation and we we parted he gave me two gifts one of them the described turtle. He told me to "hold onto it". Never since have I seen this man, but somehow it seemed the gifts held significance and I wonder if anyone knows if there is a Cherokee meaning to such a gift. For my part, I know I was supposed to give him a gift in return,but he left very quickly and, besides, not expecting such an encounter I had no gift for him. Thanks for any insight. Fran Chinkapin