Northwestern Montana along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Northern Great Plains / Blackfeet Confederacy 

Turtle shell, silver fox hair, wood
ca. mid 20th century
Length 19 in
Idiophones – Struck – Indirectly Struck – Rattles

A turtle shell ‘Dance’ rattle of the Blackfeet in the Great Plains of North America.  The handle is a wooden stick inserted into the front part of the turtle shell.   A legend of the turtle for some Native American tribes is that it contributed to creation, as the turtle dove into the primeval waters, retrieving mud to create Mother Earth.  To many the turtle also represents healing, wisdom, spirituality, health, safety, perseverance, protection, and fertility.  

This contemporary dance rattle also features silver fox hair at the front and back areas of the turtle shell. According to Native American ‘fox’ mythology, the Blackfoot and Apache share that the fox is associated with fire and the sun, and according to some myths, it was the fox who stole fire to bring to the people.

Today in modern times, handmade rattles like this are used in dance celebrations.

Resource:  https://www.native-languages.org/legends-fox.htm