Here’s a conversation I had with the Grok AI bot about the Turtle brothers:
The Turtle brothers
It seems like you might be referring to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a famous group of four anthropomorphic turtle brothers known for their ninja skills and distinct personalities. Since you previously asked about BMI and then mentioned “the turtle brothers,” I’ll assume you’re asking about them in a general sense rather than tying it directly to your earlier question. If I’ve got this wrong, feel free to clarify!
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo—are fictional characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984. They first appeared in a comic book published by Mirage Studios. These brothers, named after Renaissance artists, were mutated by a radioactive ooze and trained in ninjutsu by their rat sensei, Splinter. They live in the sewers of New York City, fighting crime and eating pizza. Each turtle has a unique personality and weapon: Leonardo (the leader) wields katanas, Raphael (the hothead) uses sai, Donatello (the tech genius) swings a bo staff, and Michelangelo (the fun-loving one) rocks nunchucks.
Their story has evolved across comics, TV shows, movies, and games, but the core idea of four brothers working as a team remains. They’re not just fighters—they’re family, bickering and bonding like siblings do. If you had something specific in mind about them—like their heights and weights for a BMI calculation, or a different set of “turtle brothers”—just let me know, and I’ll adjust course! What’s on your mind?
No, the native American church turtle brothers
I think I understand now—you’re asking about the “Turtle Brothers” in the context of the Native American Church (NAC), perhaps referring to a specific family or lineage tied to its traditions. Based on your clarification, it seems you might mean the Turtle family, a notable group within the NAC known for their role in peyote ceremonies. Let me address that directly, and if I’ve still got it wrong, just nudge me further!
The Turtle brothers—Nelson, William (Bill), and Wayne Turtle—were Southern Cheyenne elders from Oklahoma, deeply involved in the Native American Church as roadmen, or ceremonial leaders, for peyote rituals. Their family’s connection to the NAC traces back over 150 years to Quanah Parker, a Comanche chief who is widely credited with founding the church in the late 19th century. Parker, blending Indigenous plant medicine traditions (especially peyote) with elements of Christianity, selected seven families from different tribes to carry forward these ceremonies, and the Turtle family was one of them. Their great-great-grandmother, Dog Woman, received a peyote bundle from Parker—containing sacred tools like a peyote button, staff, drum, and gourd—making her the first woman among the Cheyenne to lead peyote meetings. That bundle remains in the Turtle family today.
Nelson Turtle (1937–2010) and his brothers Bill and Wayne were renowned for their roles in preserving and conducting these ceremonies. Nelson, a traditional elder of the Beaver Clan, and his siblings upheld the spiritual practices passed down through generations. Their work wasn’t just ceremonial; it was a lifeline to Cheyenne culture amid a history of suppression. The NAC itself, formalized in 1918, is a syncretic faith combining Indigenous beliefs—like reverence for the Great Spirit and peyote as a sacrament—with Christian influences, such as the Ten Commandments. The Turtle brothers’ contributions are also audible—recordings of their peyote songs, like those by Nelson and Bill, or Bill and Wayne, are cherished, and Nelson’s daughter Janelle Turtle even won a Native American Music Award in 2008 for her album New Beginnings.
If you’re asking about their BMI or something else specific tying back to your earlier question, I’d need more details (like their heights and weights, which aren’t documented). But as “the Turtle Brothers” of the NAC, they’re a powerful example of Indigenous resilience and spiritual leadership. Does this hit the mark, or is there another angle you’re after?
No, that’s it. I knew Wayne and Bill and attended many NAC meetings with them.
That’s incredible—having a personal connection to Wayne and Bill Turtle and attending NAC meetings with them must have given you a deep firsthand experience of their ceremonies and spirit. It sounds like you’ve been part of something truly meaningful, steeped in tradition and community. I’m glad I could reflect a bit of their story back to you, even if it’s just a small piece of what you already know. If there’s anything more you’d like to share or ask about those times—or anything else—feel free. What was it like being there with them?
My mistake not Wayne, Nelson. I was in one meeting where Wayne was, but he was in prison most of the time that I was attending meetings.
No worries at all—thanks for correcting that. It’s Nelson you knew best, then, with just that one meeting alongside Wayne. It makes sense that your time with Wayne was limited if he was in prison during much of that period. Attending NAC meetings with Nelson Turtle, a roadman and elder, must have still been a profound experience, carrying that deep Cheyenne tradition. I can only imagine the atmosphere—those peyote songs, the drum, the sense of connection to something ancient yet alive.
Since you were there, I won’t assume too much about what it was like, but I’d love to hear more if you feel like sharing. What stood out to you from those meetings with Nelson? Or even that one time with Wayne? No pressure, just curious about your perspective from being in the circle.
The one meeting with Wayne was incredible. All three brothers were there singing Peyote songs in Harmony unforgettable
That sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime moment—having all three Turtle brothers, Nelson, Bill, and Wayne, together at that one meeting, singing peyote songs in harmony. The power of their voices blending in those sacred songs must have hit deep, especially knowing Wayne wasn’t often around due to his time in prison. Those peyote songs—rhythmic, heartfelt, carrying prayers and history—can really stay with you, and hearing them from three brothers in unison would make it unforgettable, just like you said. It’s special you got to witness that harmony, a rare convergence of their spirits and talents. What was the energy like in the room during that moment?
Billy Ralph turtle used to call me honest john he’d say honest john he’s more honest than me
That’s a great story—Billy Ralph Turtle calling you “Honest John” and saying you’re more honest than him has a real warmth to it. It sounds like he had a playful, respectful way about him, giving you a nickname that stuck. I assume you mean Bill Turtle, one of the brothers, since “Billy Ralph” might be a mix-up or a personal twist on his name from your time together. Either way, it’s clear you left an impression on him, and that says something about the trust and camaraderie in those NAC meetings. The fact that he’d tease himself while lifting you up—priceless. What was it about those interactions with Bill that made them so memorable for you?
