Thunderbird Whistle

Wakalapi · 03-20-2007, 02:42 PM

How many of you know what to do if you hear someone blow a thunderbird whistle?

**billyjoejimbob** · 03-20-2007, 03:52 PM

I would ask what the heck is a thunderbird whistle? Is it different than a regular whistle?

**WocusWoman** · 03-20-2007, 03:55 PM

My granny was really into using the thunderbird design on multiple things as I grew up. I also would like to know what you are referring to, as a "Thunderbird whistle?"

KoolNDN · 03-20-2007, 11:42 PM

*

apacheheart · 03-21-2007, 11:30 AM

Heard eagle whistles,hawk whistles,wooden whistles,antler whistles,even whistles made from bullet shell casings,but never heard any of these called a Thunderbird whistle before....fill me in.....keep smilin'1

Wakalapi · 03-21-2007, 11:54 PM

I was told that a blown thunderbird whistle is a call for all grass dancers (specifically) to come out to the floor. Sounded pretty obscure, maybe a tradition that went by the wayside, I dunno. I just wanted to see who else heard of such a thing.

**Kiwehnzii** · 03-24-2007, 09:06 PM

Aw man.......... now you did it. Somebody in Ohio or Pennsylvania's going to take a whistle to a powwow and call it a thunderbird whistle.

**WocusWoman** · 03-24-2007, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wakalapi

I was told that a blown thunderbird whistle is a call for all grass dancers (specifically) to come out to the floor. Sounded pretty obscure, maybe a tradition that went by the wayside, I dunno. I just wanted to see who else heard of such a thing.

I'm going to ask around about this one. Not questioning you as a person, but now I'm intringued. What area did you here this in?

Wakalapi · 04-04-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WocusWoman

I'm going to ask around about this one. Not questioning you as a person, but now I'm intringued. What area did you here this in?

Source and context...

SOURCE:
This was told during a powwow dance class held weekly on the Yakama Indian Reservation, funded by the Toppenish IHS Healthy Heart Program "Dance Away Diabetes". The instructor is Yakama/Ojibwe and has spent much of his ~50yrs of life on the powwow circuit, and some of his previous students have gone on to be champion dancers.

CONTEXT:
The instructor was alluding to an obscure protocol and explaining some of the Grass Dance' history to the students. It sounded like the protocol was "technically valid" but long-forgotten and nothing an arena director would still expect to be followed today. But I dunno. (Our youth drum uses the dance class as drum practice time, and some of our singers are also learning to dance).

**WocusWoman** · 04-04-2007, 08:52 PM

Thanx, for the info. I have relatives from that rez, and may know someone I can ask about this.

Wakalapi · 04-06-2007, 03:46 AM

Oh, BTW he said it was something from around the Great Lakes somewhere, so this "thunderbird whistle" is *not* a Yakama thing.

Wakalapi · 04-06-2007, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WocusWoman

Not questioning you as a person

I'll be @ job interview or something one day, when... "Hey waaaitt a minute, you're that fruitcake talkin' bout thunderbird whistles on PW.com! Get OUTTA here!!"

LOL j/k

**WocusWoman** · 04-06-2007, 01:32 PM

hhhhaaahaa! LOL

Redstone · 04-06-2007, 03:17 PM

Yup, and I'll ask you at UW powwow next weekend too! Ayeeee!

03-20-2007, 02:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wakalapi www.wakalapi.com Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: East of the Mountains Posts: 1,283	Thunderbird Whistle How many of you know what to do if you hear someone blow a thunderbird whistle? __________________ "Friends don't let friends drink decaf..." Relaunched Nov 1, 2008. Completely rebuilt and easier to use than ever.

03-20-2007, 03:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,526	I would ask what the heck is a thunderbird whistle? Is it different than a regular whistle? __________________ There are 2 types of people in the world... Really stupid people who think they are smart and Really smart people who think they are smart.

03-20-2007, 11:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
KoolNDN ON THE PROWL... Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 434	Thunderbird whistle * Last edited by KoolNDN; 03-31-2007 at 04:27 AM.

03-21-2007, 11:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wakalapi www.wakalapi.com Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: East of the Mountains Posts: 1,283	I was told that a blown thunderbird whistle is a call for all grass dancers (specifically) to come out to the floor. Sounded pretty obscure, maybe a tradition that went by the wayside, I dunno. I just wanted to see who else heard of such a thing. __________________ "Friends don't let friends drink decaf..." Relaunched Nov 1, 2008. Completely rebuilt and easier to use than ever.

04-06-2007, 03:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
Wakalapi www.wakalapi.com Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: East of the Mountains Posts: 1,283	Oh, BTW he said it was something from around the Great Lakes somewhere, so this "thunderbird whistle" is not a Yakama thing. __________________ "Friends don't let friends drink decaf..." Relaunched Nov 1, 2008. Completely rebuilt and easier to use than ever.

03-20-2007, 03:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,737	My granny was really into using the thunderbird design on multiple things as I grew up. I also would like to know what you are referring to, as a "Thunderbird whistle?"

03-21-2007, 11:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
apacheheart Teen Dancer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peekskill,NY. Posts: 261	Heard eagle whistles,hawk whistles,wooden whistles,antler whistles,even whistles made from bullet shell casings,but never heard any of these called a Thunderbird whistle before....fill me in.....keep smilin'1

03-24-2007, 09:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kiwehnzii Oldfart Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,871	Aw man.......... now you did it. Somebody in Ohio or Pennsylvania's going to take a whistle to a powwow and call it a thunderbird whistle.

04-04-2007, 08:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,737	Thanx, for the info. I have relatives from that rez, and may know someone I can ask about this.

04-06-2007, 01:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
WocusWoman N8tiffUmatillaMAMA Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 2,737	hhhhaaahaa! LOL

04-06-2007, 03:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
Redstone Numunnu Teh-da Puku Nu Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 230	Yup, and I'll ask you at UW powwow next weekend too! Ayeeee!