The hummingbird, a jewel-toned blur of motion and energy, holds a place of profound significance in the rich tapestry of Native American cultures. Unique to the Americas, these tiny avian wonders are absent from the folklore of Europe and Africa, yet they feature prominently in the myths, legends, and spiritual beliefs of numerous indigenous tribes. The hummingbird’s symbolism is multifaceted, reflecting its unique characteristics and the diverse perspectives of the various nations who have observed and revered it for centuries. This article explores the diverse interpretations of the What Does the Hummingbird Represent to Native American People? across different tribes and regions.
One of the most prevalent themes associated with hummingbirds is that of the sun. A captivating Mayan legend casts the hummingbird as the sun incarnate, a vibrant suitor pursuing the moon, a symbol of feminine beauty and grace. This celestial connection highlights the hummingbird’s association with light, warmth, and the life-giving energy of the sun. Another Mayan story tells that the first two hummingbirds were made from the discarded feather scraps leftover from the creation of other birds. The god who made them was so delighted with his creation that he arranged a lavish wedding for them. Butterflies marked the room, flower petals made a carpet, spiders spun webs for a bridal pathway, and the sun sent down rays to give the groom a dazzling array of reds and greens. Guests at the wedding noticed that the groom would become drab when he turned away from the sun, a reminder of the gray feathers from which he was made.
The hummingbird’s role extends beyond the celestial realm. In a third Mayan legend, it is said that ancient kings would pierce their tongues, and the blood would be poured on sacred scrolls and burned, to summon divine ancestors in the smoke.
In stark contrast, a Mojave legend places the hummingbird as a guide leading people from a dark, subterranean world to the sunlit surface. This narrative casts the hummingbird as a courageous explorer, a beacon of hope navigating treacherous paths to bring light and prosperity to humanity. This tale is a testament to the hummingbird’s ability to find the way, even in the face of daunting circumstances.
Love, loss, and transformation are also woven into the hummingbird’s symbolic fabric. A poignant legend from the Jatibonicu Taino Tribal Nation of Puerto Rico echoes the tale of Romeo and Juliet. It speaks of two lovers from warring tribes who, defying societal constraints, transform into a hummingbird and a red flower, forever united in nature, beyond the reach of tribal conflict. For the Taino Indians, the hummingbird is a sacred pollinator, spreading life and abundance.
The Chayma people of Trinidad view hummingbirds as the spirits of departed ancestors, imbuing them with a sacred status and a taboo against causing them harm. The Arawaks, an extinct Caribbean tribe, believed that the hummingbird, known as the "Doctor Bird," was responsible for bringing tobacco to humanity. This connection to medicinal plants further emphasizes the hummingbird’s association with healing and well-being.
Not all legends paint the hummingbird as an infallible figure. A Navajo story recounts the hummingbird’s journey to discover what lies beyond the blue sky, only to find nothing. This tale serves as a reminder that even the most skilled and resourceful creatures can encounter the limits of knowledge and perception.
Cherokee stories offer contrasting perspectives on the hummingbird. In one, a medicine man transforms himself into a hummingbird to recover lost tobacco plants, showcasing its agility and resourcefulness. Another tale depicts a woman choosing between a hummingbird and a crane as a suitor. Initially drawn to the hummingbird’s beauty, she is ultimately swayed by the crane’s endurance, though she later regrets her decision. These stories highlight the importance of looking beyond superficial qualities and considering deeper, more enduring traits.
The Creek Indians share a similar story, emphasizing the crane’s ability to fly in a straight line, while the hummingbird zigzags. These narratives teach valuable lessons about perseverance, strategy, and the importance of choosing wisely.
Among the Hopi and Zuni tribes, the What Does the Hummingbird Represent to Native American People? is a bringer of rain and a mediator between humans and the gods. Legends tell of hummingbirds interceding on behalf of humanity, convincing deities to bestow the life-giving gift of rain. As a result, hummingbird motifs are often painted on water jars, reflecting the bird’s association with water and fertility. The Hopi Kachina for Hummingbird is a colorful representation of the bird’s essence, complete with green moccasins, a green mask, an aqua body, a yellow head, and a ruff made of Douglas fir.
One Hopi story tells of children left alone during a famine. The boy makes a toy hummingbird, which his sister throws into the air. The toy comes to life and brings them an ear of corn every day. Eventually, the hummingbird flies to the center of the earth and pleads with the god of fertility to restore the land. Rain and green vegetation return, and the children’s parents return.
A Pima legend likens the hummingbird to Noah’s dove, bringing back a flower as proof that the great flood was receding. This association with hope and renewal further solidifies the hummingbird’s positive symbolism.
A Taroscan Indian legend from Mexico tells of a woman who was taught to weave beautiful baskets by a hummingbird as thanks for being given sugar water during a drought. These baskets are now used in Day of the Dead festivals.
The What Does the Hummingbird Represent to Native American People? also includes healing and comfort. An Apache legend tells of Wind Dancer, a deaf warrior who could sing magical songs that brought healing and good weather. After his death, he returns as a hummingbird to whisper his secrets to his wife, bringing her peace and joy.
The Pueblo Indians perform hummingbird dances and use hummingbird feathers in rituals to invoke rain. Pueblo shamans see hummingbirds as messengers, transporting gifts to the Great Mother who resides beneath the earth. To many Pueblo people, the hummingbird is a tobacco bird, a bringer of smoke for purification rituals. Some Pueblo Indians perform a ritual for babies that die at birth or shortly after, where prayer sticks with hummingbird feathers are held before the sunrise on the winter solstice.
One Pueblo story tells of a demon blinded after losing a bet with the sun. He spews hot lava and sets the earth on fire. A hummingbird saves the land by gathering clouds from the four directions and using rain to put out the flames. The legend says that the bright colors on the hummingbird’s throat came when it flew through a rainbow in search of rain clouds.
The Aztecs of Central America held the hummingbird in particularly high regard. They adorned ceremonial cloaks with hummingbird feathers, and chieftains wore hummingbird earrings. Aztec priests carried staves decorated with hummingbird feathers, using them to draw evil from those cursed by sorcerers.
An Aztec myth tells of Huitzilopochtli, whose name means "hummingbird from the left." He was a valiant warrior who led his people to a new homeland and helped them defend it. His mother conceived him from a ball of feathers that fell from the sky, and he wore a helmet shaped like a giant hummingbird. In battle, after he was killed, his body vanished and a green-backed hummingbird flew up from the spot where he had fallen to inspire his followers to victory. After death, he became a god.
The Aztecs believed that warriors slain in battle rose to the sky and orbited the sun for four years before becoming hummingbirds. In the afterlife, these transformed heroes feasted on flowers in the gardens of paradise and engaged in mock battles to hone their skills. At night, they became soldiers again and fought off the powers of darkness. At dawn, the hummingbirds would go into a frenzy and be rewarded by the sun with a radiant sheen.
In an Aztec ritual, dancers formed a circle and sang, "I am the Shining One, bird, warrior, and wizard." At the end of the ritual, young men lifted young girls to help them fly like hummingbirds. Another Aztec legend says that the god of music and poetry took the form of a hummingbird and descended into the underworld to make love with a goddess, who then gave birth to the first flower.
The hummingbird’s role as a messenger between worlds is a recurring theme. The Cochti tell of ancient people who lost faith in the Great Mother and were deprived of rain for four years. They noticed that the hummingbird was the only creature that thrived during the drought. They learned that the hummingbird had a secret passageway to the underworld where he gathered honey. The doorway was open only to him because he had never lost faith in the Great Mother. The people regained faith, and the Great Mother took care of them.
In conclusion, the What Does the Hummingbird Represent to Native American People? is a testament to the bird’s multifaceted nature and its profound connection to the natural world. From celestial suitor to courageous guide, from sacred pollinator to messenger of the gods, the hummingbird embodies a wealth of symbolic meaning that continues to resonate within Native American cultures. Its vibrant colors, agility, and seemingly boundless energy have made it a symbol of hope, healing, love, and perseverance, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all things and the power of faith in the face of adversity.