In American Native cultures, bears are a symbol of courage, strength, resourcefulness, wisdom and intuition. Native origin stories often describe bears as teachers and healers and many Native American tribes believed that bears were able to heal their own wounds. As such they are closely tied to healing and medicine. Because of their strength and fierceness, they are also the protectors, guardians and helping spirits of warriors. Warriors often wore bear claws on necklaces for protection and strength.
Bears are a common motif in Native American art. They appear as carvings on totem poles, on jewellery, as masks and in paintings, or limited edition prints.
In Northwest Coast Indigenous art, the bear has distinguishing features: a wide mouth, claw like hands and feet, large flaring nostrils, conspicuous teeth and a downward protruding tongue. Grizzlies are often depicted with fangs, whereas black bears typically are not.
Bears also hold significance as crest figures and feature prominently in Native legends. Many Indigenous groups believe that bears and humans were once capable of transforming into one another. Due to their human like qualities, West coast people have even referred to them as elder kinsmen. When a bear is killed during a hunt it is taken to the chief’s house, sprinkled with eagle down (a symbol of friendship) and treated as a high ranking guest.
For some amazing facts about Canada’s bear species, please click here.
by Joe Wilson