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