Like most people. I had seen bears in a zoo or the circus, but had not had the
opportunity to see them in their native habitat. I will never forget the day that I actually
saw my first bear in the wild. It had visited our cabin at Cloudcroft, New Mexico, to feed on some scraps that we had put out for the squirrels and other small animals. We never dreamed a bear would show up for supper. He was about as excited as I was when he saw me watching him, and he took off like a rocket. I had never imagined that bears could run that fast. He was gone in a hearttbeat. This encounter gave me a respect for the agility and speed with which he moved and made me think twice about being able to outrun a bear in the woods. It also made me curious and interested in finding out all that I could about them. 
 
The human fascination with bears stretches back hundreds of years and is found in the
rituals and traditions of many Native American cultures. They are symbolic for their
strength, power, unpredictability, courage, protection, intelligence, and their ability to
walk upright. They tend to have human-like characteristics and therefore, are sometimes
compared to humans. They are normally the largest land mammals in their area, and
because of their sheer size and strength, they have the ability to overpower most animals
as well as humans. The mother bear, like most human mothers, is extremely protective
and aggressive at any threat to her offspring. The bear is also highly intelligent and is
especially unusual in the animal world because of its ability to walk on two legs instead
of the customary four. The hibernation of the bear is another unusual trait. They
essentially sleep in their dens through the winter and emerge once again in the Spring.
This trait is sometimes associated with resurrection and the coming of new life.
 
Bears figure prominently in the mythology of nearly every Native American tribe. In
most Native cultures, the bear is considered a medicine being with impressive magical
powers, and plays a major role in many religious ceremonies. Bears are symbols of
strength and wisdom to many Native Americans, and are often associated with healing
and medicine. Bears are also used as clan animals in many of the Native cultures.
 
The spiritual connections made with the bear makes it a brother to the First People.
The Grizzly bear was especially important to them and contributed to their idea of what
makes a good warrior. A warrior would see these traits in the bear: a fierce spirit that
would give the warrior bravery, a large mass, and physical power that shows confidence
and victory, a preference for peace which calls for balance and cautio,n but also
potentially furious storm and a powerful surge of courage and strength that the warrior
would need at times.
 
Among the Pueblo tribes, bears are considered one of the six directional guardians,
associated with the west and the color blue. The Zunis ascribe healing powers to bears
and carve stone bear fetishes to protect them and bring them luck. A bear's claw was one
of the talismans frequently included in medicine bundles. Warriors in some tribes wore
bear claws hanging from their waistband or as necklaces to bring them power and
strength. They were also thought to bring protection and good health to the person
wearing them. They never traded these objects but could give them away as a special gift.
When used in jewelry, the bear symbolizes leadership qualities as well as strength. The
bear paw is another symbol that is used in their jewelry. It was their belief that the bear
paw was an indicator of the animal's spirit and power, representing an inner strength.
 
On my Bear Paws vessel, I have used a realistic bear and bear paws in a circle on the
lid. On two sides, I have used a stylized bear with a heart line and a stylized bear with a
bear paw. On the remaining two sides, I have placed large bear paws. Hopefully, this
vessel will impart protection and good health as well as inner strength to the person who
possesses it.