the boy (The Bear Man)

Family: Pawnee · Role: the boy who imitates a bear · First appears: The Bear Man

Before he was born, the boy's mother (The Bear Man) was left alone while the boy's father (The Bear Man) went on the warpath. The boy was born with all the ways of a bear. Later, his war party was surrounded by Sioux at Running Water, and all the Pawnees were killed.

In the afternoon, the he bear (The Bear Man) and the she bear (The Bear Man) gathered the boy’s hacked body together and restored him to life. They took him to their cave among the cedars and cared for him until he healed; the bears taught him their ways. When he was well, the he bear (The Bear Man) promised, “I am going to make you a great man; but you must not deceive yourself,” and brought him back near the village. The boy went to his father, who was surprised and glad to see him again. When they were about to part, the he bear blessed him, saying, “Because my mouth has touched your mouth you shall be made wise.” The boy became an old man and died of old age.

Relationship record

Life events

• The boy was born with the ways of a bear.(The Bear Man)
  • With: the boy's father (The Bear Man) the boy's mother (The Bear Man)
  • “When his child was born it had all the ways of a bear.”
• The boy's war party was surrounded by Sioux, and all the Pawnees were killed.(The Bear Man · 📍 the Running Water)
  • “The Pawnees were overpowered, their enemies were so many, and all were killed.”
• The bears gathered the boy's hacked body together and restored him to life.(The Bear Man)
  • With: the he bear the she bear (The Bear Man)
  • “Pretty soon the man began to move, and to come to life, and then he became conscious and had life.”
• The bears took the wounded boy to their cave and cared for him until he healed.(The Bear Man · 📍 a cave in the rocks among the cedars)
  • With: the he bear the she bear (The Bear Man)
  • “He lived with the bears until he was quite healed of his wounds, and also had come to understand all their ways.”
• The he bear promised to make the boy great and taught him to rely on the creator.(The Bear Man)
  • With: the he bear
  • “I am going to make you a great man; but you must not deceive yourself.”
• The he bear brought the boy back to his village and sent him to his father for gifts.(The Bear Man · 📍 the village)
  • With: the he bear
  • “They started, and went to the village, and waited near it till it was night.”
• The boy returned to the village, where his father was surprised and glad to see him.(The Bear Man · 📍 the village)
  • With: the boy's father (The Bear Man)
  • “The man went into the village, and his father was very much surprised, and very glad to see him again.”
• The he bear blessed the boy, saying his touch would make him great, fearless, tough, and wise.(The Bear Man)
  • With: the he bear
  • “Because my mouth has touched your mouth you shall be made wise.”
• The boy became an old man and died of old age.(The Bear Man)
  • “He came to be an old man, and at last died of old age.”

The Bear Man

• parent: the boy's mother (The Bear Man) “Now, it had happened that before this boy was born his mother had been left alone at home, for his father had gone on the warpath toward the enemy, and this was about five or six months before the babe would be born.”
• parent: the boy's father (The Bear Man) “Now, it had happened that before this boy was born his mother had been left alone at home, for his father had gone on the warpath toward the enemy, and this was about five or six months before the babe would be born.”
• mentor: the he bear (The Bear Man) “The two old bears taught him everything that they knew.”

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Extracted from the original text of Pawnee Hero Stories and Folk-Tales. Made with Rho MD.