Grizzly Bear
Nez Perce · numen · Nez Perce traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Grizzly Bear (xáxaac) is the fierce antagonist of many tales, appearing as a devourer of travelers and, in the cycle of the Five Grizzly-Bear Sisters, as a household of murderous women whose killings are avenged. Set against the ordering work of Coyote, Grizzly embodies untamed ferocity, and encounters with the bear commonly resolve through trickery or violence. Sources vary in casting the grizzly as male or as the sisterhood of grizzly-women.
Domains
- predation
- ferocity
Powers
- attacks and devours travelers
Epithets
- xáxaac — grizzly bearHaruo Aoki, Nez Perce Dictionary (1994) (primary)
Relations
- enemy: CoyoteGrizzly's ferocity is set against Coyote's ordering work.Deward E. Walker Jr. with Daniel N. Matthews, Nez Perce Coyote Tales: The Myth Cycle (1994) (secondary)
Sources
- Grizzly Bear is a recurring fierce antagonist, including in the cycle of the murderous Five Grizzly-Bear Sisters, set against Coyote.: Archie Phinney, Nez Percé Texts (Columbia University Press, 1934) (primary); Deward E. Walker Jr. with Daniel N. Matthews, Nez Perce Coyote Tales: The Myth Cycle (1994) (secondary)