This article comes out of the larger context of my doctoral dissertation where I investigated my experiences as an academic who attempts to remain true to Indigenous Knowledge (IK) traditions while working within a Western European intellectual setting. In this current paper, I combine the conceptual frameworks of Aboriginal literacy and Cavanagh's (2005) holistic educational model of the Anishinaabe teaching wand to present a holistic model of Anishinaabe literacy. I then consider the ethical responsibility of protecting and sustaining IK. Finally, I share a personal narrative and detail a central model of Anishinaabe literacy--my carving of a turtle shaker. The turtle shaker model is an applied example of Anishinaabe literacy that was developed using learning gained from traditional knowledge and academic environments. The intention is for this model to facilitate the transformation of how IK is taken up in the academy and in schooling settings. (Contains 5 figures and 3 footnotes.)