The Passamaquoddy legend of the Thunderbird and its beginning is very, very, old.

Two Indians set out on a journey to find the home of thunder. Travelling north, they came to mountains that magically slid open and closed. The first Indian told his friend, “I will jump through first, if I get caught, go on and find thunder’s home.” The first Indian jumped and made it through the mountain, but the second wasn’t so lucky. He was squashed as the mountains slammed back together. Once through the mountain, the Indian saw a village full of wigwams. Several Indians were playing a ball game. Time passed and the players said to each other, “It’s time to go.” They entered their wigwams and emerged a short time later wearing wings and carrying bows and arrows. They flew south over the mountains.

The old men that remained in the village noticed the young Passamaquoddy. They asked him who he was and what he wanted. The Indian told his story to the village elders and waited while they debated on how to help him.

After considering the situation, the elders put the Indian into a stone mortar and ground his bones until they were broken. They shaped and molded a new body for him that was shaped like a Thunderbird. His new body had large wings so he could fly. The elders gave him a bow and arrows and sent him on his first flight. He was told to avoid flying near trees. His speed would get him killed if he couldn’t stop and ran into them.

A large enemy bird named Wochowsen created a strong, damaging wind that prevented the Indian from reaching his home. Because he was Indian and could not hurt or kill another Indian, Wochowsen and Thunderbird had an intense rivalry. Passamaquoddies were afraid of Wochowsen. His wings had been broken by Glooscap before, because of his overwhelming strength. When Wochowsen’s wings were broken, the air did not move. It became stagnant. The seas did not move and filled with slime. The fish and other sea creatures began to die.  Glooscap’s people began to suffer and go hungry. He noticed the terrible things happening and fixed Wochowsen’s wings so that strong winds were controllable. He made sure that the strong winds alternated with calm breezes.

This legend tells how the lone Passamaquoddy Indian became the great Thunderbird who watches over good Indians.