The Woman and Her Bear

Long ago, in the far reaches of the north lived a tribe of Inuit people. They survived on the frozen arctic shores in homes of igloos and they depended on the sea for food. They ate mostly seal and salmon, though from time to time they’d catch something else.

All of the young men hunted and fished; what they caught or killed they brought back to their families. But there was one old woman who lived just outside of the village, who had no husband, or brother, or son to help her with food. So the neighbors would take turns helping her and giving her a part of theirs.

The old woman was lonely. She wanted a family! She spent most of her days walking the cold, wintry shores, just praying for a son. One day the hunters came back with a huge polar bear and they gave her the ribs. One of the young men came back later. They all knew she was lonely, so he gave her the gift of the polar bear’s cub.

The little ball of white fur lied still. At first she thought it was dead; but it soon warmed up and cried out a little. “I’ll bet you’re hungry, aren’t you little one?” She looked around her igloo, and found some blubber and some salmon. “Your name is Nakoda,” she told him, looking into his big eyes.

From that day forward, the mother and son began to bond. She spoke to him and it seems he gained a human mind. He would sniff when he was hungry; he would snuggle in when he wanted affection; and he would give a little growl when he was upset.

The villagers didn’t mind the cub, but the village children really loved it. Every…