The Secrets of Topa

In the village Topa lived many families. Their lodges could be seen for many miles in this beautiful valley. The people had lived there for many sunrises and sunsets. The game was good, and the river flowed clean and plentiful. Life was good for all.

One morning as Father Sun rose and women rustled around to stir the night fires and prepare for their day’s work, many skins were being prepared for the Growing and Warm Time Celebration. This celebration was in response to the snows melting and the animals stirring in plenty again, emerging from their winter hiding places. The Standing People would once again provide shade from the warmth of Father Sun, and there were smiles on the women’s faces as they greeted Him. The men stretched from a good night’s sleep and began their morning routines by also greeting Father Sun. Children wiped the sleep from their eyes and followed their parents around trying their best to be grown-up and responsible human beings.

The Medicine Man, Seebona, of the Topa village made his prayers for the birth of the new day and the coming of the Taloka Celebration. All was well and beautiful.

All the bliss of this new day was shattered by the frightened screams of children. As was usual, they had gone to draw water from the river. Now the entire village froze momentarily. Never had they heard their children scream like this. All ran to the river, their hearts pounding.

They were greeted with a horrifying scene. Two black bears on hind legs, extended to their full lengths. The bears stood between the children, the village and safety. Although the children could have jumped into the river, their survival in the swift cold water seemed as improbable as passing the two huge bears unscathed. The black bears were growling and gnashing their teeth. The men had brought their weapons, but everyone was afraid and amazed at once. Never had black bears come from their winter sleeping grounds so early. Everyone in the village stood as frozen as the ground under their feet, except for the two huge black bears. No one seemed to know what to do. This was most unusual and strange.

Seebona stepped forward. He brought forth his powerful Medicine with confidence and knowing. Everyone seemed to relax. He began to rattle a slow rhythmic beat like that of a heartbeat.

The bears stepped toward him as everyone gasped.

He continued to rattle in the hypnotic beat and then sang. The song was much like a lullaby but full of power like none other they had ever heard him sing before.

Soon Seebona was dancing a joyful dance.

One of the black bears dropped to the ground and ran towards the children. The men drew their weapons, but Seebona signaled for them to stop. The men obeyed their Medicine Man, respecting his wisdom. One black bear ran toward the children and seized by the dress the smallest child, Kanobee, and then ran off into the woods. The second bear was gone as quickly.

Again there was a gasp from the entire village. Kanobee was gone in an instant. Polay, Kanobee’s mother, ran to Seebona and cried and screamed her heartache. Only a Mother could make such a sound. It pulled at the heart of even the strongest man.

Seebona held his ground and showed no emotion. Polay fell upon the ground and begged him to explain why the black bears had taken her only daughter. He replied, “It was meant to be, so give thanks and prayers.”

No one understood. They had all greatly respected Seebona for many years, but it seemed he had lost his mind.

It was late that afternoon before the village resumed its routine. No one could shut out the Mother cries of Polay. Kanobee was her first and only child. Her husband, Tapakopa the village chief, had died last warm season when the men were hunting. He had saved a young boy from being killed by a black bear. The black bear had then killed Tapakopa and now had taken his only child, whom he had never seen. Polay could not find comfort anywhere; her life was at an end it seemed.

The village slept again, an uneasy sleep. All was quiet. Polay wept quietly and rocked as if she were holding the small Kanobee. She looked up to the sky. Seebona stood before her as if in a dream. He began speaking to her. She didn’t hear at first, but soon her crying stopped and she listened.

The next morning, Polay went about her routine as if nothing had happened. Everyone was truly amazed. Polay seemed to be joyful and happy, but no sound came from her lips. When Seebona was consulted, he simply said, “It was meant to be, so give thanks and prayers.”

Life went on in the village of Topa. Polay never spoke another word. Kahe, a strong hunter and brother of Tapakopa, took her as his wife and they lived happily.

Many seasons passed. Each Warm Season Celebration the story of Kanobee and her father, Tapakopa, was told very quietly around each home fire.

The Warm Season Celebration had begun. Polay sat with her three children, Tona, Suelkola and Pohe. They watched as the men danced and listened as the woman sang the beautiful song of Father Sun and the Walking Children of Mother Earth.

In the dimness of the moonlight appeared two shadows so big that the large ceremonial fire seemed to diminish in comparison. All dancing and singing stopped. Seebona smiled. He had grown very old and sat wrapped in his finest blanket. With great effort he got up and faced the tremendous shadows that had silenced the village. Everyone trembled with fear. The growls of the black bears were starkly heard.

Into the light of the fire appeared two black bears. Again, everyone temporarily froze. The men didn’t have weapons, and you could almost hear the silent screams of mothers.

Seebona began his singing and rattling. The black bears seemed to answer his songs with growls of their own.

The black bears stood taller than any man in the village. They stepped towards Seebona, and a gasp rose from the whole village as memories flooded hearts of stories told of Tapakopa and Kanobee.

What happened next is told in many different ways. Everyone saw what happened, but no one believed what they saw. When one of the black bears dropped to all fours, it was discovered that a young girl rode its back. Polay ran and threw her arms around the young girl and sang a song of Nepo, joy. The other black bear and Seebona seemed to dance with one another until Seebona disappeared into the bear. As quickly as they had come, the black bears were gone and Seebona was gone as well. All that was left was his finest blanket and the young girl. The young girl kneeled and placed the blanket around her shoulders, and began to sing a song that caused even the strongest man to cry, for it was a song of love and power and good Medicine.

Her name was Nollkata, Woman Who Walks In Balance.

The Topa village still exists today. Only no one has ever been able find it. It is said a powerful Medicine Woman named Nollkata guards it alongside the black bears. It is also said few have been invited there for the Warm Season Celebration and the Dance of the Black Bears. My Grandmother would tell me of these celebrations. Her Great Grandfather’s name was Tapakopa.