White-Bear (Tale 17 bear)

Also known as: White-Bear · Family: Arikara · Role: bear · First appears: Tale 17 · How Burnt-Hands Became a Chief · Part 1

In Tale 17, White-Bear (Tale 17 bear) rescued Burnt-Hands (Tale 17), adopted him as his son, and endowed him with power and medicine. He told him, “From now on you shall be my son,” then taught him the bear ceremony and gave him his medicine bundle. White-Bear’s cub had told his father about Burnt-Hands after seeing his wounds and ragged clothing and feeling sorry for him.

Relationship record

Life events

• White-Bear rescued Burnt-Hands, adopted him as his son, and endowed him with power and medicine.(Tale 17 · How Burnt-Hands Became a Chief · Part 1)
  • With: Burnt-Hands (Tale 17) White-Bear’s cub
  • “From now on you shall be my son. You shall treat Red-Bear just as he has treated you. I will enjoy his flesh. I will endow you with all the power I have. I will teach you all, and you shall go back and do as I say.” White-Bear and Burnt-Hands then sat down and began the bear ceremony, Burnt-Hands learning everything and receiving his bundle of medicine and other things.”

Tale 17 · How Burnt-Hands Became a Chief · Part 1

• child: Burnt-Hands (Tale 17) “From now on you shall be my son.”
• child: White-Bear’s cub “The cub saw poor Burnt-Hands in his ragged clothing and with wounds. The cub felt pretty bad for the boy and told his father about him.”

Tale 17 · How Burnt-Hands Became a Chief · Part 2

• child: Burnt-Hands (Tale 17) “He adorned his grandmother and himself according to the instruction of his Bear father.”

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Extracted from the original text of Traditions of the Arikara. Made with Rho MD.