|
|
| A long time ago in the land of the Quillayute there was a very sad time. For many days storms with rain, hail, sleet and snow came to the ground. The pieces of hail were so big that they killed many of the Quillayute people; because of this the Quillayute people had to leave their home land from the coast and move to the Great Plains, the highest part of the land. After living there the people grew think and weak from hunger. They had no food because the hailstones destroyed their food. Many times they called upon the Great Spirit for help, but they never heard back. Then the Great Chief of the Quillayute, who was old and wise, called a meeting. He said “Take comfort, my people. We will call again upon the Great Spirit for help. If His help doesn’t come then we know that it is His will that we die. If we do die then we will die as brave Quillayute have always died.” The people called to the Great Spirit again and they heard nothing. Then suddenly, there came a great noise, and flashes of lightning cut into the darkness. The Quillayute people looked into the sky and saw a bird-shaped creature fly toward them. The bird-shaped creature was called Thunderbird. Thunderbird flew high in the sky, and went back to the thunder clouds and lightning it came from. The Thunderbird saved Quillayute from dying and the Quillayute people knew the Great Spirit heard their prayer. |