| The Legend of the Thunderbird |
Legends of the Thunderbird have occurred in
Native American Mythology and Religion in
almost every Tribe and Nation to inhabit the
United States. The Iroquois of the Eastern
Nations, the Shawnee of the Woodland Tribes,
the Sioux of the Plains and Nez Perce of the
Northwestern Tribes all recognized the
Thunderbird as a mighty force against the Evil
Spirits of the Underworld. The Thunderbird was
the Spirit of all things good for the native
peoples; and was a constant protector against
the Spirits of the Underworld.
The legend of how the great Thunderbird,
Wakan Tanka, saved the "Human Beings" from
the evil underworld water monster, Unktehi,
comes to us from the vision quest of a Brule -
Sioux Medicine Man. Because of her dislike for
any creature unlike herself, Unktehi decided to
flood the earth and destroy the "Human Beings."
She did this by swelling her body to fill all the
oceans, rivers and streams; leaving no room for
the water. This caused a great flood which
covered the earth, except for a few mountain
tops. The truthful, pure, and loyal "Human
Beings" fled to these mountains to survive.
Wakan Tanka seeing this, decided to help these
"Human Beings" and began a great battle with
Unktehi that lasted for many years. Wakan
Tanka first tried to fight Unktehi on the water but
suffered many wounds and was losing the battle.
Wakan Tanka withdrew to the sky and called the
Thunderbirds and their young to a council where
it was decided that to fight Unktehi in her world
of water was futile and it was best to fight from
their world, the sky. It was decided that all the
Thunderbirds would release their lightening
bolts at the same time. This was done and the
waters boiled and Unktehi was burned as were
all the forests and the land was desolate except
for those truthful, pure, and loyal "Human
Beings"on the mountain tops. Nothing was left of
Unktehi but her bones which had turned to stone
and can still be found in riverbeds all over the
earth. Wakan Tanka caused rain that nourished
the people, and they flourished. Wakan Tanka
was therefore revered in all the Tribes as a
powerful ally of the "Human Beings."
The Thunderbird was believed to be the source
of the rain, the lightening and the thunder. Rain
fell from a lake that the great bird carried on his
back. The lightening came from his eyes as he
blinked, or, lightening bolts were shot to the
earth from a mighty bow he fashioned with his
wings. The thunderclap came from the beating
of his great wings. The rolling thunder was from
the wings of the young Thunderbirds. The Sioux
believed that where lightening bolts struck the
ground, medicine stones were formed. These
stones were thought to have great magic and
were highly valued by the Medicine Men of the
Tribes.
The Thunderbird was chosen as the Totem of
Troop 50 because, for centuries, it has
represented the Spirit and Philosophy of
Scouting; as it reveres people who embrace
TRUTH, PURITY, LOYALTY and DUTY to
"Human Beings."
WEAR IT WITH PRIDE AND DEDICATION!!!
Native American Mythology and Religion in
almost every Tribe and Nation to inhabit the
United States. The Iroquois of the Eastern
Nations, the Shawnee of the Woodland Tribes,
the Sioux of the Plains and Nez Perce of the
Northwestern Tribes all recognized the
Thunderbird as a mighty force against the Evil
Spirits of the Underworld. The Thunderbird was
the Spirit of all things good for the native
peoples; and was a constant protector against
the Spirits of the Underworld.
The legend of how the great Thunderbird,
Wakan Tanka, saved the "Human Beings" from
the evil underworld water monster, Unktehi,
comes to us from the vision quest of a Brule -
Sioux Medicine Man. Because of her dislike for
any creature unlike herself, Unktehi decided to
flood the earth and destroy the "Human Beings."
She did this by swelling her body to fill all the
oceans, rivers and streams; leaving no room for
the water. This caused a great flood which
covered the earth, except for a few mountain
tops. The truthful, pure, and loyal "Human
Beings" fled to these mountains to survive.
Wakan Tanka seeing this, decided to help these
"Human Beings" and began a great battle with
Unktehi that lasted for many years. Wakan
Tanka first tried to fight Unktehi on the water but
suffered many wounds and was losing the battle.
Wakan Tanka withdrew to the sky and called the
Thunderbirds and their young to a council where
it was decided that to fight Unktehi in her world
of water was futile and it was best to fight from
their world, the sky. It was decided that all the
Thunderbirds would release their lightening
bolts at the same time. This was done and the
waters boiled and Unktehi was burned as were
all the forests and the land was desolate except
for those truthful, pure, and loyal "Human
Beings"on the mountain tops. Nothing was left of
Unktehi but her bones which had turned to stone
and can still be found in riverbeds all over the
earth. Wakan Tanka caused rain that nourished
the people, and they flourished. Wakan Tanka
was therefore revered in all the Tribes as a
powerful ally of the "Human Beings."
The Thunderbird was believed to be the source
of the rain, the lightening and the thunder. Rain
fell from a lake that the great bird carried on his
back. The lightening came from his eyes as he
blinked, or, lightening bolts were shot to the
earth from a mighty bow he fashioned with his
wings. The thunderclap came from the beating
of his great wings. The rolling thunder was from
the wings of the young Thunderbirds. The Sioux
believed that where lightening bolts struck the
ground, medicine stones were formed. These
stones were thought to have great magic and
were highly valued by the Medicine Men of the
Tribes.
The Thunderbird was chosen as the Totem of
Troop 50 because, for centuries, it has
represented the Spirit and Philosophy of
Scouting; as it reveres people who embrace
TRUTH, PURITY, LOYALTY and DUTY to
"Human Beings."
WEAR IT WITH PRIDE AND DEDICATION!!!
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