Thunderbird Stories, Legends, and Myths

 

                                     

Thunderbird Stories of Pacific Northwest Native Peoples

Thunderbird Stores from the Hoh, Quileute, and Tillamook Tribes

"For the native cultures of the Pacific Northwest and the Great Plains, the Thunderbird was a mythical creature that embodied strength and power. The Thunderbird is a very large and powerful bird. It was said to be so large, in fact, that it could pluck an orca whale from the sea with as much ease as an eagle catching salmon in its talons. As the name implies, Thunderbirds were associated with storms. The massive wings of the Thunderbird made the sound of thunder when they flapped, and according to some stories, the Thunderbird even shot lightning from its eyes. For peoples of the Great Plains, the Thunderbird was a harbinger of rain, which could be a welcomed sight or a destructive force, depending on the conditions. In some cultures, Thunderbirds go to war with other forces of nature. “To the Arapaho, Thunderbird is the summer bird who challenges White Owl Woman, the winter bird, to see whose powers are greater. Thunderbird stirs up great black clouds with tremendous noise and wind. White Owl Woman stirs up thick, fast-moving white clouds that blow a piercing wind. The Thunderbird represented the power of nature and the violence of storms, but it was, for the most part, not a fearsome or malevolent creature. This mythical creature was revered as sacred. The tribes of the Pacific Northwest topped their totem poles with carved images of Thunderbirds. Drawings, artwork, songs, stories, and dances featuring the Thunderbird are common in the tribes of the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest."
-  Ten Native American Mythical Creatures

"The thunderbird is a mythological bird-like spirit in North American indigenous peoples' history and culture. It is considered a supernatural being of power and strength. The thunderbird is said to create thunder by flapping its wings (Algonquian^[1]), and lightning by flashing its eyes (Algonquian, Iroquois^[2]). Across cultures, thunderbirds are generally depicted as birds of prey, or hybrids of humans and birds. Thunderbirds are often viewed as protectors, sometimes intervening on people's behalf, but expecting veneration, prayers, and gifts. Petroglyphs of thunderbirds are found near Twin Bluffs, Wisconsin. Similar beings appear in mythologies the world over. Examples include the Chinese thunder-god Leigong, the Hindu Garuda and the African lightning bird.^[14]"
- Thunderbird in Wikipedia

"According to many legends, the Thunderbird is so large that one feather from their wingspan would have to be folded in half to properly fit into a quiver. Additionally, these creatures were so large and mighty that they could easily carry a whale in their talons. Because of this, many scholars find it unlikely that the Thunderbird could exist in modern day without being seen.

In spite of these things, the Thunderbird continues to be a point of fascination for all. The Thunderbird appears to be a creature of extreme intelligence and intrigue. There are many stories that tell of the Thunderbird in Native American legends, which make the creature appear to be one of the key deities in their beliefs. The Thunderbird is mysterious in that it is not merely a protector, but is also seen as enforcer of morality – one that should never be angered."
- Thunderbirds in Myths

Other Transformer Changers Creatures are the Raven and Coyote.

My favorite harmonica is the Hohner Thunderbird in the Key of C Low.

South Puget Sound Travel Day Three

We both continued to struggle overnight with coughing, sinus pain, tiredness, aches and other cold sypmptoms.  We gathered our belongings and left for Vancouver early in the morning.  

When we got home we both were feeling quite ill.  We tested and found that we both had the COVID 19 Flu virus.  

Mima Mounds, Tumwater, WA

Tumwater, WA

City of Olympia, Washington  Images

Weyhauser Rhododendron Garden and Pacific Bonsai Garden

Little Creek Resort and Casino in Kamilche

Squaxin Island Museum, Kamilche

Shelton, WA  Images

South Puget Sound, WA

Hood Canal   Images

Skokomish River   Images

Skokomish Indian Cultural Center

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport

Over the past three decades, Karen and I have stayed overnight, dined and/or played
at numerous Indian Resorts and Casinos in Washington and Oregon:

Little Creek Resort and Casino in Shelton/Kamilche,
Little Skookum Inlet, Totten Inlet, South Puget Sound WA;

Ilani in La Center WA; Wildhorse in Pendelton OR;
Seven Feathers, Canyonville OR; Northern Quest, Spokane, WA:

Legends, Yakima WA; Spirit Mountain, Grand Ronde OR:
Mill, Coos Bay OR; Chinook Winds, Lincoln City OR.

South Puget Sound Travel Day Two

Today, we began with breakfast at Bloundie's in Shelton.  Drove up to Potlach and Hoodsport along the Hood Canal. Visited the Skokomish Indian Museum and Cultural Center.  Drove around the area and enjoyed the scenery. Beautiful clear day at Potlach State Park.  I watched 10 people digging for clams.

Mima Mounds, Tumwater, WA

Tumwater, WA

City of Olympia, Washington  Images

Little Creek Resort and Casino in Kamilche

Squaxin Island Museum, Kamilche

Shelton, WA  Images

South Puget Sound, WA

Hood Canal   Images

Skokomish River   Images

Skokomish Indian Cultural Center

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport

South Puget Sound Travel Day One

Today Karen and I drove north from Vancouver up to Olympia, Washington.  We took a drive around the Olympia City area, enjoyed lunch at Anthony's Homeport Olympia restaurant in the Bud Inlet, a drive around Shelton, a visit the Squaxin Island Museum, Library and Research Center, and then check into our hotel room at the Little Creek Resort and Casino in Kamilche. 

Unfortunately, I was under the weather with a cold, sinus pain, coughing, and fatigue.  I needed to rest and sleep all afternoon and evening.

Mima Mounds, Tumwater, WA

Tumwater, WA

City of Olympia, Washington  Images

Little Creek Resort and Casino in Kamilche

Squaxin Island Museum, Library, and Research Center, Kamilche

Shelton, WA  Images

South Puget Sound, WA

Hood Canal   Images

Skokomish River   Images

Skokomish Indian Cultural Center

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport

Mt. Ranier, Washington

Stratovolcano, 14,411 Feet (4,392M)

Cascades Mountain Range, Western Washington

Due East of Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Puget Sound

Mt. Ranier - Wikipedia

Cascade Volcanic Arc

Karen and I have traveled all around this immense and dramatic mountain many times since 2010.  

Cascade Volcanic Arc

San Juan Islands, Washington

We enjoyed the Washington State Ferry ride from Anacordes to Friday Harbor at the San Juan Island.  

Sagit River Valley, Washington

We drove east on Route 20 through Sedro-Woodley City, and up to Rasar State Park.  The wooded park is close to the large Skagit River.  The valley area down to the many bays is filled with farms, grazing lands, dairies, and all kinds of crops.  The Skagit River Valley is famous for is verdant farms.  It was very cloudy and hazy today, so we did not have good views of the Mt. Baker peaks.  

Next summer, we plan to drive Route 20 from Port Townsend to Spokane.  Route 20 is closed in the winter in the Northern Cascades.    

Bay View, Washington

We stayed for three nights in a cabin by the southern end of Padilla Bay in northeastern Washington State.  The cabin was at Bay View State Park. 

We traveled to Anacortes, San Juan Island, Mt. Vernon, Bellingham, Burlington, Sedro-Woodley, Concrete, Widby Island, and south along 101 by the Hood Canal to Olympia.  The Chuckanook Mountains 1896 road from the valley beside Samish Bay to Bellingham was a delight. 

The drive from our home in Vancouver to Bay View was about 260 miles. 

Bay View State Park

The southern end of Padilla Bay was very shallow, mostly mud flats

at low tide.  The view to the west was Marsh Point and the huge

Shell-Texaco oil refinery and the array of storage tanks.  

Just doing a lot of looking, seeking, gazing, listening.