Oban's Myths & Legends
The Boy Who Loved Bears (continued)
Soon after the battle had finished a bear and his mate came upon the horrible scene.
The female bear recognised Little Bear.
“Look, that is the young man who prays for us. We have to help him!” she said to her husband.
‘I can’t,” said her husband. “My healing medicine only works in the light. The clouds are stopping the sun from shining its light on us.”
Just then the clouds parted and Little Bear was bathed in a single ray of sunlight.
The bear stood tall, raised his arms to the sky and cried. “Oh, Great Spirit! I ask you to return life into the body of this young man.”
The bear continued praying and slowly the life-spirit returned to Little Bear.
The bears gently picked Little Bear up and took him to where they lived. Little Bear stayed there for many months, until he was healed.
When Little Bear was well the bear walked with him to the top of a hill overlooking Little Bear’s village.
The bear held Little Bear's hands in his mighty paws and breathed his spirit into him.
“We are brothers now, and are as one” said the bear. “Whatever happens to me will happen to you, and whatever happens to you will happen to me.”
Little Bear became an even greater hunter and held Bear Ceremonies to heal others and to give thanks to the Great Spirit for the bear. As he grew older Little Bear changed his name to Bear Man.
Bear Man passed on the power of the bear to his children and grandchildren. They passed it on to their children, so even today the power of the bear is still known to the Pawnee people.
After many years, Bear Man died peacefully in his sleep. It is said that an old bear died at that very instant.
The two brothers were together again.
The End
