The Thunderbird is a mythological figure common to many Algonquian Tribes. The blinking of the Thunderbird's eyes causes lightning, and the flapping of its wings causes the thunder. The Thunderbird is a mediator between the Creator (called beeheeteiht 'source of all' or beehiniisonoonibeiht 'father of all' or beh'eihehi' 'the old man' or heisonoonin 'our father') and humans, and provides power to humans who are able to complete the fasting and prayer required to obtain this power. The Thunderbird is often associated with the Golden Eagle. It is seen to be in eternal battle with the White Owl (who represents winter, night, and snow), and the Water Monster, who lives in lakes, ponds, and springs. The Thunderbird is especially apt to send his lightning strikes down at water, in an effort to kill the Water Monster, and the rainbow represents the fishing line with which the Thunderbird attempts to capture the Water Monster.

Vocabulary related to the Thunderbird

neníitóuuhut = it is thundering (literally "[thunderbird] is hollering, screaming")
céheekúút = lightning (literally "the blinking of [thunderbird's] eyes")
cééheekúút = it is lightning ("[thunderbird] is blinking his eyes")
cééhuukúúnoosóó' = it is raining with lightning ("blinking rain")
nii'éíheinó'et = thundercloud ("eagle/thunderbird cloud")
noyóót = rainbow ("fishing line [of the thunderbird]")

Skybird Song (sung about the Eagle, as a representative of the Thunderbird)

honoh'oe noohobei'ee
hihcebe' heentoonoo
neneeninoo nii'eihii

young man, look at me
I am here up above
I am the eagle

Thunderbird Song (a song about a vision of the Thunderbird, who order that the most sacred and powerful Arapaho ceremonial drum (called the "Eagle Drum") be built, during the early twentieth century)

nii'eihii noo'useet
niihooninoo'oo' hono'

the [thunder]bird is arriving
the sky is rapidly turning yellow

The Address of the Thunderbird to the Arapahos

The following is an excerpt from a story told by Paul Moss. The complete story is entitled "The Eagles," and can be found in Hinóno'éínoo3ítoono / Arapaho Historical Narratives, edited by Andrew Cowell and Alonzo Moss, Sr. University of Manitoba Press, 2005. The story tells that the Thunderbird originated as a human, Arapaho person, who transgressed sacred taboos and was turned into an eagle. As he departed, he addressed the Arapahos, telling them he would always be a reminder both of the power and the danger of nature: of the need to respect the rules of the tribe, but also of the fact that he would watch out for the Arapahos and help them live properly.

hetiicih'oonoyoohowube.
heetniicih'entoonoo.
heeseiniinoo' heeneino'oxoo'uu neceheekuut.
heetniinoohootowunee neceheekuut;
ne'nii'he'inowunee.
neneeninoo nii'eihii, heetniicih'entoonoo hinee hihcebe', hinee heetiinoono'oxoo'uu.
nii'eiheino'eti' ni'ii3eihiinoo' hi'in nee'eesinihiitou'u hini' nii'eiheino'et;
heetne'niitoonoo.
heetniiceheekunoo niiceheekunoo.
heetniice'no'u3ecootowoo niiyou nuhu' nih'iiteihinoo.

you must always keep watch for me.
I will always be there for you.
when the winds come and the clouds are thick and dark, I will blink my eyes.
you will see the flashing lightning;
that is how you will know of my presence.
I am the Thunderbird, I will always be up above you, where the clouds are thick and dark.
the Thunderbird Cloud, that is what it is called, that's how they say it, that Thunderbird Cloud;
that's where I will be.
I will blink my eyes, and the lightning will flash.
I will think back upon this place where I first came from.

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