Blackfoot Discoveries: Blackfoot Stories: The Blackfoot and the Bear

Our summary of "The Blackfoot and the Bear" told by;
Emma, Andrew & Kelly

Long ago, the son of one of the Blackfoot chiefs went on a very dangerous journey to find and bring back the enemies' horses so that the Blackfoot would have more power. When trying to bring the horses back, all of his comrades were killed and he was left alone and wounded. His enemies surrounded him and built a fire and he prayed to the Spirit of the Storm that rain would fall. When it rained, the rain put out the fire and he crawled to a cave and stayed until winter came. He was very weak when he heard footsteps at the cave doorway. He thought it was his enemies, but it was a bear. The bear didn't eat him but he helped him by licking his wounds to make them heal and by carrying him back to his camp. He said, "Tell your people not to kill a bear that has gone to its den for the winter and always give a bear the chance to run or fight for his life." Because the bear had helped him he told his people the story and to this day no one hunts a bear that has gone to sleep for the winter.

What did we hear in this story that we have heard in other stories?

• The weather and the seasons always change.
• Animals help and talk.
• Something is angry.
• Something dies.
• There is always a lesson to be learned.
• There is always something walking around and something big.
• Someone is always on an adventure.

We think this story teaches us...

• To never kill a bear that has gone to its den for the winter. They are very scary and we should respect them.