Indian language
American Indian culture
Native American art
Native American Legends: Badogiak (Seven Thunders)
Name: Badogiak
Tribal affiliation: Penobscot,
Abenaki,
Maliseet,
Passamaquoddy
Alternate spellings: Badôgiak, Padôgiyik, Petakiyik, Bed-day-yek, Pa-don-gi-ak, Bad8giak, Pedogiic. The singular form is Badogi (Badôgi, Badawk, Petak.)
Pronunciation: puh-dawn-gee-uck (Abenaki-Penobscot) or peh-dah-gee-yick (Maliseet-Passamaquoddy)
Also Known As: Thunders, Thunderers, Thunder Beings, Thunder Brothers, 7 Thunders
Type: Nature spirits,
thunder,
lightning
Related figures in other tribes: Thunderbirds,
Animiki,
Thunders
The Seven Thunders are a family of powerful storm spirits.
According to some legends, they are seven brothers; according to others, there is an entire tribe of them.
They are fierce warriors and thunder is caused by the sound of their battles, while lightning flashes from their
eyes. Like other Wabanaki weather spirits, the Seven Thunders are associated with birds, but usually appear
in human form (generally as men with with bird's wings, sometimes with long golden hair), and in many stories their clan intermarries
with Indian people.
Sponsored Links
White Owl:
Story of a Penobscot hero who was saved from a witch by the Thunder Brothers.
How a Hunter Visited the Thunder Spirits:
Passamaquoddy story about the Thunder and Lightning Brothers.
The Origin of the Thunderbird: 
The Thunder and Lightning Men:
Story of a Passamaquoddy man who discovered the home of the Thunderers and was transformed into one of them.
Of the Woman Who Married the Thunder:
In this Passamaquoddy story, Thunder (Badawk) is male, while Lightning is his sister.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
Giants of the Dawnland:
A good collection of Wabanaki legends told by a Penobscot Indian author.
Seven Eyes, Seven Legs:
More good myths and folktales told and illustrated by an Abenaki author.
Algonquian Spirit:
Excellent anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Maliseet and other Algonquian tribes.
Additional Resources
Wabanaki mythology
Penobscot language
Passamaquoddy words
Maliseet tribe
Vermont reservations
Woodlands Native
Algonquian Indian
Back to Legendary American Indian Characters
Back to Native American Myths
Learn more about the Passamaquoddy.
Native American family history
Hopi masks
Moccasins Native American
Totem
Indian clothing
Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?
Native Languages of the Americas website © 1998-2020 Contacts and FAQ page