My Artistic Response- The Bear

There are many different spiritual animals and symbols in Native American history and folklore. Some examples are the Wolf, the Salmon, the Bear, the Beaver, the Eagle, the Bison, the Coyote, and the Raven. Out of all of these, the bear spoke the most to me. After hearing about the different traits between the different animals, I feel closely represented by the bear.

Bear Meanings from Native North American Views

The bear has a long history among Native American people.

The bear is said to be as free spirited as the wind and greater than it is big. The bear is also known as being very unpredictable. The bear seems peaceful on the outside as it forages for berries and other plants, but when provoked it showed the First Peoples its ferocity.

Because the bear has this ferociousness hiding just under the surface, the First Peoples were very cautious and respectful of the bear. Even tribes of people who were sworn to peace recognized and respected the “spirit of the warrior” that is the spirit of the bear.

Bear symbolism was determined by what tribal sages and other tribal members saw of the bear. They saw similarities between humankind and bears from what the bear eats and how the bear stands upright like a man.

One tribal sage from the Shoshone tribe saw a group of bears standing upright and called it the “Dance of Gratitude” as well as a way of offering prayer.

Bears are known for the symbols they stand for in different tribes. Some of those symbols are:

• Protection
• Childbearing
• Motherhood
• Freedom
• Discernment
• Courage
• Power
• Unpredictable

Bears are also known to non-native peoples as standing for:

 Peace

 Resurrection

 Powerful

 Benevolence

 Sovereignty

 Motherhood

 Duality

This spirit animal specifically because of some of the indicating characteristics of the bear. I believe if I had a totem or spirit animal, it would be a bear. I also think that my brother would be a bear, as well. I relate to the Protection, freedom, courage, and predictableness of the bear, according to the Native American symbols. For non-native people, I relate to the benevolence, peace, and duality traits of the bear.