Lords of the Sky

One of the most prominent icons found in Native American cultures, the Thunderbird is a symbol of power, protection and renewal. A true cross-cultural symbol, legends of the Thunderbird can be found from the East Coast to the Pacific Ocean, as far north as the Hudson Bay to the jungles of South America. In the spiritual traditions of indigenous North Americans, the Thunderbird is a powerful spirit often attended by eagles and falcons, who protects mankind and fights his most powerful enemies. The Thunderbird, who creates lightning from it's mouth or eyes and thunder by the beating of its wings, was commonly thought to be responsible for rain and the growth of plants as well. Usually depicted with a huge wingspan, it often is also pictured with large ears or horns, and sometimes with lightning bolts or snakes in its talons. Not only limited to the New World, analogues have been found in Asia, Africa and European artifacts as well, though this article will focus on North American representations.

For the Algonquian of the east coast and Great Lakes regions, the Thunderbird was the Lord of the sky and outer earth, and opposed the Great Horned Serpent (or sometimes, the Underwater Panther) who was the master of the underworld. The Thunderbird, often represented by an X, creates thunder by flapping its wings and hurls lightning bolts at his underworld enemy.

In the Menominee culture of northern Wisconsin, the Thunderbirds were messengers of the Great Sun, and enemies of the Misikinubik, the horned serpents who feast on humans. Residing on a great floating mountain in the western sky, they were fierce protectors of humans, relishing in fighting and displays of power, and preventing the evil serpents from overrunning the Earth.

For the Ojibwe who lived on the northern coasts of the Great Lakes and into the Canadian interior, it was Nanabozho, the great hero and trickster god, who first created the Thunderbirds to oppose the spirits under the water who were bent on man's destruction. The Thunderbirds also served to punish human wrongdoing. Appearing in the springtime with the return of migratory birds, the doodem battled the underwater spirits during the summer, and flew south come fall.