The Corn Bird
While our friends from Ecuador were here occasionally visiting during the years 2009-2011, we often had time for long conversations about their home, their way of life, and the things in nature that were important to them.
They would come for three to six months at a time, travelling to wherever they felt the sharing of their knowledge was needed. Each time they came back to our area we made plans to have them stay in our home so we could visit with them. We wanted to absorb as much as possible about their culture and were deeply grateful for this opportunity to learn from them.
One of the legends we were told when asking about the birds and plant life unfolded into the story about the corn bird. I was wanting to draw some of the important aspects of their culture in order to honour our new friends and their visit to Canada. It would be my way to hold them closer to me once they went back home for the last time. The corn bird was one of the images I wanted to draw not only because of the story connected to it, but because we also have this bird in Canada; we call it a grosbeak.
The legend says when the corn is planted and has grown to full height, the people in their village wait for the song of the corn bird. Once the bird begins to sing they know the corn is ready to pick. Now I did not think to ask once the story was told if the bird sang at any other time, although I’m sure that it must. I imagine like all birds they have different vocal sounds that signal different events in their lives. I imagine he meant there is a specific song for the ripening of the corn. I also remember being fascinated at being reminded of the close connection we can share with nature if only we will stop to listen and bridge this knowledge gap.
These people have kept their Incan culture alive, passing down the knowledge of their ancestors from one generation to the next since before the conquistadors arrived on their land. It was such an honour to meet them, share time together, and be reminded of the greatness of living simply with honour.
How interesting that we now live here in Ecuador with these same people who brought some of their beautiful world to ours those many years ago. As I sit here, daily writing and observing the corn bird and watching the growing corn, I anticipate the time when it will sing its song to let us know the harvest is ready.
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