Ursa Major (Changing Bear Maiden)

The seven brothers became Ursa Major. The Big Dipper is the more famous part of the constellation. Click on image for full size (28K JPG) Courtesy of Nova Development Corporation

In Navajo myth, Ursa Major, the Great Bear, originated from the story of the Changing Bear Maiden. In the story, a girl accepts a bear as her husband. Her younger sister tells the father, who in turn kills the bear. The older sister changes into a bear to get revenge.

The younger sister and seven brothers tried to flea their sister. The bear turns back into a girl and chases after her siblings. She eventually killed six of the brothers.

The seven brothers flew up into the sky and became Ursa Major.