A long time ago, Shonkwaia’tíson noticed that none of the birds would sing, so he proposed to them a contest. Whichever bird could race the fastest to the sun in the sky, [[would win the most beautiful song|Hitch a Ride]].
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src="https://misterjsnodgrass.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/iroquois-sky-woman.jpg" />
The hermit thrush, being a small bird, knew he had no chance of winning. He decided that he would hide in the feathers of the eagle, [[to hitch a ride|The Race]]
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src="https://9b16f79ca967fd0708d1-2713572fef44aa49ec323e813b06d2d9.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/1140x_a10-7_cTC/20150527HOHermitThrush-1567730466.jpg" />
When the race started, the eagle was the fastet to take off, but did not know that the hermit thrush was hiding in his feathers. None of the other birds could complete with the eagles speed, and soon he was not far from the sun. Right before the eagle reached the sun, the hermit thrush jumped out before him, and [[beat the eagle to it|The Song]]
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src="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Dusk.jpg" />
The hermit thrush was gifted the most beautiful song, as Shonkwaia’tíson had promised, even though the eagle was the one truly deserving of this. Upon seeing the eagles angry glare, the hermit thrush became embarrassed of what he had done, and instead of returning to the rest of the birds, [[he hid himself under the brush|The End]]
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src="https://media.kidadl.com/The_Hermit_Thrush_15_Facts_You_Won_t_Believe_00b5016721.jpg" />
Even to this day, the hermit thrush never shows himself, as he is too ashamed of what he had done. Though once in a while, you will hear his beautiful song, as the other birds go quiet, knowing his song from the skyworld will make theirs weak.
We tell our children this story, to help teach them to always be honest.
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src="https://www.mcgill.ca/indigenous/files/indigenous/indigenous_artwork_1-cropped_10.jpg" />