If you ever read Indian myths,
then you heard of the thunderbird. It is described as a large bird, capable of
creating storms and thundering while it flies. Clouds are pulled together by
its wing beats, the sound of thunder is made by its wings clapping, lightning
flashes from its eyes when it blinks, and individual lightning bolts are made
by the glowing snakes that it carries around with it. In masks, it is depicted
as many-colored, with two curling horns, and, often, teeth within its beak. The
Lakota name for the Thunderbird is Wakį́yą, a word formed from kįyą́,
meaning “winged,” and wakhą́, “sacred.” The Kwakwaka’wakw has many names
for the Thunderbird and the Nuu-chah-nulth gave it the name of Kw-Uhnx-Wa.
The Ojibwa word for a thunderbird that is closely associated with thunder is animikii,
while large thunderous birds are known as binesi.
Although associated most of the
time with the Plains Indians, the Thunderbird was also known to the
Algonquin-speaking peoples. However, like most Native American cultures
on East Coast (except maybe Iroquois), little is now known of their
beliefs.
In regards to the Thunderbird,
this much is known: This fearsome being that resembles a winged man or an
immense bird causes fear and dread. The myths tell that it is known to actually
kill and eat humans from time to time.
There once
existed a gigantic bird in North America.
Called the Teratornis Merriami, it stood five feet tall and had a wingspan of
twenty-four feet and had the long narrow beak of the predator bird, too. Bones
of this bird and humans have been found in the same areas together. Maybe the
ancestors of the Native Americans today killed these giant birds for their
feathers or myths of the Thunderbird arose due to the birds kidnapping their
children and stock.
2 comments:
Fascinating post! I forgot which middle state it was, maybe Ohio... but there's a glyph of a huge bird, and the American Indians tell tales of this bird species that carried off their children, and that it was killed by a brave warrior. I don't recall the details, though. Likely it's all on the internet.
Glad you enjoyed it, Savanna. And I think I'd heard that tale somewhere myself.
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