What is "lelawala"

In Native American legend, Lelawala was a beautiful maiden of the peaceful tribe of the Ongiaras that was married off by her father to a king. However, she despised the old king, and longed to be with her true love He-No. He was the god of thunder and lurked in a cave beneath the Horseshoe Falls, a part of the Niagara Falls by the Great Lakes. She decided she wanted to find He-No at all cost, and as she paddled a canoe onto the Niagara River she was swept off the Falls. Fortunately He-No had been watching and caught Lelawala while she fell. It is said they stayed together after that and their spirits still live in the caves beneath Niagara Falls to this day.

Lelawala is known as the original Maid of the Mist.

A re-telling of Lela Wala's tale, as well as other timeline relative historic points, is shown in movie format at the Niagara Falls touring park (2012).