| The thunderbird has been one of the most | | | | he blinks his eyes that glow like fire. Sometimes |
| dominant icons in Native American art and legends. | | | | these lightning snakes are depicted in Native |
| In fact, the concept of the thunderbird has been | | | | American art as having wolf or dog-like heads |
| so popular that it has been used in the non-Native | | | | with serpent tongues. They are occasionally |
| world to name a classic automobile, liquor, a | | | | referred to as the thunderbird's dogs. Native |
| 1960's children's adventure television show (and | | | | American art portrays the thunderbird with a |
| subsequent recent movie), a US Air Force | | | | huge curving beak and prominent ears or |
| squadron and is referenced in pop music | | | | horns.The thunderbird is large and strong enough |
| (remember the word 't-bird' in 1950's rock and | | | | to hunt its favorite food which is the killer whale. |
| roll?). The thunderbird is one of the few | | | | The lightning snakes of the thunderbird are used |
| cross-cultural characters in Native American | | | | during hunts out at sea for the killer whale. After |
| mythology since it is found in legends of Pacific | | | | capture, the thunderbird carries the killer whale |
| Northwest, Plains, and Northeastern tribes.The | | | | back to the mountain to eat. According to legend, |
| Native Indians of the Pacific Northwest Coast | | | | the thunderbird and killer whale once battled so |
| always lived along the shores and never ventured | | | | hard that entire trees were uprooted. This was |
| inland to the mountains. Legend has it that the | | | | the explanation why there are treeless prairie |
| thunderbird, a mighty God in the form of a giant, | | | | regions near the Pacific Northwest Coast |
| supernatural bird lives in the mountains. The | | | | mountains. The thunderbird and killer whale are |
| Quileute tribe of Washington state considered a | | | | often depicted together in Northwest Native |
| cave on Mount Olympus as the home of the | | | | American art. A large example is at one by |
| thunderbird while the Coast Salish believed it is | | | | reknowned Northwest Native American art |
| located on the Black Tusk peak in British Columbia. | | | | carver Richard Hunt at one of the Northwest |
| It is thought that the thunderbird never wants | | | | Native American art exhibits at the Vancouver |
| anyone to come near its home. If Native hunters | | | | International Airport.The Squamish Nation in British |
| get too close, the thunderbird will smell them and | | | | Columbia, Canada has a thunderbird as their |
| make a thunder sound by flapping its wings. It | | | | symbol. Their thunderbird is portrayed as one of |
| would also roll ice out of its cave and down the | | | | the special messengers of the Creator. The |
| mountain with chunks breaking up into many | | | | Squamish thunderbird is a symbol for strength as |
| smaller pieces.Some tribes such as the | | | | well as change with the three tail feathers |
| Kwakwaka'wakw believe that their people once | | | | representing the past, present and future. In the |
| made a deal with the thunderbird for its help | | | | talons of this thunderbird is a face of a lizard |
| during a food crisis and in return, the tribe agreed | | | | which represents spiritual protection for the |
| to honor the thunderbird for all time by making its | | | | people of the Squamish Nation.For many people, |
| image prominent in their Northwest Native | | | | Natives and non-Natives alike, the thunderbird has |
| American art. This is why West Coast art totem | | | | become a symbol of power, strength and nobility. |
| poles are often carved with thunderbirds with | | | | Even the classic automobile of the same name |
| outstretched wings at the top.The wingspan of | | | | was reintroduced as a contemporary version.Clint |
| the thunderbird was described to be twice as long | | | | Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery an online |
| as a Native Indian war canoe. Underneath its | | | | gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest |
| wings are lightning snakes which the thunderbird | | | | Native American art including carvings, sculpture |
| uses as weapons. Lightning is created when the | | | | and prints. |
| thunderbird throws these lighting snakes or when | | | | |