A long time ago in the village of Shufinne, a young orphan girl lived with her aunt. The aunt spoiled her own children but was very mean to the girl. She made her work from sunrise to sunset, gathering wood, working in the fields, and looking after the turkeys. Everyone called her Turkey Girl.
Turkey Girl was kind to the turkeys, and they loved her. She grew into a young woman, but she always looked dirty and tired in her tattered clothes.
One day, it was announced that a big dance would be held in the village. Turkey Girl's cousins prepared new dresses, but she knew she was not invited and had nothing to wear. For days, she sighed and talked to her turkeys about the dance.
On the fourth day, the turkeys led her deep into the canyon. The oldest turkey spoke to her, offering help. Astonished, Turkey Girl agreed to trust them.
The old turkey instructed her to place her dress on the ground. He strutted back and forth on it with his beak and wings. Meanwhile, the other turkeys brushed her with their wings and combed her hair with their beaks until she was clean and her hair shone.
The old turkey then presented a beautifully embroidered white dress. Another turkey provided fine white moccasins, and a third offered a sparkling shell necklace. Transformed, Turkey Girl looked truly beautiful.
Before she left for the dance, the old turkey made her promise to return before dark to lead them home. "I promise! You can trust me!" she shouted as she ran to the village.
No one recognized the beautiful stranger. Turkey Girl was shy at first but soon joined the dancing, enjoying herself so much that she forgot her promise and the turkeys.
Only when the sun sank behind the mountains did she remember. She ran from the village back to the canyon, but it was dark and empty. She chased through the canyons, calling for her turkeys, but they ran from her. Her new clothes were torn and covered in dirt, and the necklace was lost.
Finally, she returned to the village, sobbing and dirty. Without her turkey friends, life would be much harder.
To this day, wild turkeys are scattered throughout the canyons and mountains. Because of Turkey Girl's broken promise, they no longer trust humans and run away when we come near.