Legends of the Thunderbird #8

"Thunderbird and Whale", Tony Hunt Jr, 2001. Image: Cedar Hill Long House (www.cedarhilllonghouse.ca)

​“When the Sun has his longest trail to cover, then must we consider what we must do to prepare to put out to sea and hunt whale.  At these times do we rejoice as sons of Thunderbird, that we can come together and talk of these things and seek his counsel.  For he is wise and has hunted whale since before the world began and is able to kill the double-headed serpent who can turn canoes to stone so that they sink.  Then at the end of this counsel shall be a great Potlatch and a great giving of gifts and shall each chief give all his substance so that none invited are offended by a small gift.  For from the wisdom of Thunderbird, shall we go out on the great waters and bring back whale, whose skin shall be made into a belt and whose flesh shall make us rich and whose bone shall be our treasure”.

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• A Nootka Tale
  

(As published in The Thunderbird Journal, Fall 1984)