Did You Know?
The Thunderbird is the symbol of the Military Police. It is a uniquely Canadian icon that originated from a legend of the West Coast Indians. The Tlingit, Salish, Nisqa'a and Haida are some of the more well known tribes. The legend goes that a giant killer whale, Orca, was eating all the salmon and the people were starving. The elders summoned Thunderbird to help them. Thunderbird seized Orca and carrying him far off into the Pacific Ocean. When Thunderbird returned, he asked the elders how they would honour him. Thunderbird and the elders agreed that Thunderbird would keep Orca away and the elders would honour him by putting his likeness at the top of their totem poles, ever vigilant for Orca. Thunderbird is a symbol of vigilance and watchfulness, important attributes of the Canadian Forces Military Police.
