Who We Are
We protect, support and advocate for our precious Turtle relatives, while also embracing all our relations!
We share Indigenous ways of being in reciprocal relationship with all of our relations and practice the concept of Etuaptmumk (also known as “Two-Eyed Seeing”), which includes both Indigenous and western knowledges and worldviews.
We have a Hotline that responds to calls about all turtles who are seen on land, as well as injured or deceased turtles in water. Turtle Protectors responds to calls regarding nesting Mama turtles, hatchlings, turtles crossing roads, and injured and deceased turtles. We protect Mama turtles while nesting and install nest protectors to guard their eggs. These nests are monitored and, once they emerge, we help hatchlings get safely to water.
We are not a not-for-profit or a registered charity, we are a collective community that welcomes everyone. Our vision is to expand our work to all parks with wetlands, and to protect Turtle relatives by mobilizing community members (as we can all be Turtle Protectors) in the Toronto area.
Mishiikenh Gizhaasowin
We are grateful to Henry Pitawanakwat, for translating Turtle Protectors into Anishinaabemowin: Mishiikenh Gizhaasowin.
Mishiikenh is the name for Snapping Turtle, and it is also used to refer to turtles in general.
Gizhaasowin is referencing a fierce protectiveness, similar to a Mama bear protecting her cubs.
Miigwetch (thank you) to Grandmother Vivian Recollet for all of her support, conducting ceremonies and guiding our program in a good way.
About our logo…
Our logo was created by Jared Tait, an Anishininwuk artist from Sachigo Lake First Nation. Here is what he has to say about his work:
"The snapping turtle holds a strong connection to Mother Earth. It’s in our creation story. The scutes on their back represent moon cycles/changing of seasons. The four limbs of the turtle honour the four directions. The head represents the future, the tail shows the past. The outer lines surrounding the turtle depict a spiritual link, a circle. Everything in this life is connected."
Our Story
Turtle Protectors was inspired by a Mama Snapping Turtle laying her eggs on a large field in High Park on June 8, 2021.
On that day, co-founders Carolynne Crawley and Jenny Davis worked together to help protect Mama Snapping Turtle and assist her return back to water.
With the guidance of Grandmother Vivian Recollet, they formed Turtle Protectors, Mishiikenh Gizhaasowin.
As of 2026 we are in the following parks:
Biidaasige Park
Colonel Sam Smith Park (with support from Friends of Sam Smith)
Don Valley Brick Works Park (with support from Evergreen Brick Works)
Étienne Brûlé Park
High Park
Home Smith Park
Humber Bay Park
King's Mill Park
Rennie Park
Smythe Park (with support from Smythe Park Turtle Watch)
Woodbine Park
CBC Radio Unreserved: The turtle inspires these Indigenous advocates to give back to the land
CityNews Toronto: Indigenous-led group protecting turtle population in High Park
Toronto Star: Citizen conservation effort seeks to protect turtles in High Park
CTV News: Here is how a Toronto group is protecting the city's turtle population