Bear: The protecter of nature

streamlinedesign.com

        

In Native American culture, the bear is cardinally known for being "the protector… [who] symbolizes physical strength and leadership...the untamable side of humanity. (Support Native)" In most of the myths, it is evident that the bears find the wilderness more comfortable. In a Cherokee legend, there is a story about a family in the Ani Tsaguhi tribe. The parents had a son who liked to venture off into the woods by the mountains to play. As time dragged on the boy would go to the mountains “oftener and stayed longer, until…he would not eat in the house at all, but started off at daybreak and [would] not come back until night. (Cherokee Bear)” No matter how many times the parents would scold, their child ignored their protests and went off into the mountains where he felt most at peace. One day, the parents noticed that their son’s hear was starting to grow out in long, thick tufts. When they questioned their son about the hair, he flat out said that he’d rather be living in the woods, where the food is plentiful and the work load is small. He then made an offer to his parents, saying that he will allow them to live with him only if they fast for seven days. After a long talk with the tribe leaders, the parents (as well as the tribe members themselves) went along with their son’s propositions, hoping he spoke the truth about the land and its offerings. After a while, the towns’ people sent their headmen to persuade the Ani Tsaguhi tribe live with the civilization rather than the woods. However, when the headman entered the woods, he was shocked to see that the people’s hair had grown all over their bodies in long clusters just like the boy’s had. The tribe refused to come back and deemed themselves as bears, saying “when you yourselves are hungry come into the woods and call us and we shall come to give you our own flesh. (Cherokee Bear)” This legend captures the bear’s harmony with nature. Not only do they carry the strength of endurance for living out in the wilderness, but it is clear that the bears adapt very well to the turbulence of Mother Nature. The Native American’s interpretation of the bear is very similar to Ethan Edwards in The Searchers. In the film, Ethan makes it apparent that the outdoors is his true realm of security.  After Ethan and Martin find Debbie, the Native Americans launch an attack against them. When those two reach the safety of the rocks, instead of shooting the Native Americans behind the rock, Ethan shoots his gun openly next to it, despite the fact that he has a wound, which illustrates his ease towards the wilderness. Another iconic scene is at the end of the film, instead of going inside the house like everybody else, Ethan stays outside, which further reveals his instinctive coherence with the wilderness. In Native American myth, the bear is seen as the chief of the wilds. They are highly respected because “they share the same land with the Indian tribes, so what would affect one species would in turn affect the other. (Native American)”

aaanativearts.redbubble.com


Works Cited

"Bear Stories." Welcome to Indigenous Peoples Literature. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2011. http://www.indigenouspeople.net/bear.htm.

John Wayne: The Searchers. Dir. John Ford. Perf. John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles. Warner Home Video, 2007. DVD.

"Native American Animal Symbols." Support Artisans crafting Indian Gifts, Native American Art and crafts. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. http://www.support-native-american-art.com/Native-American-Animal-Symbols.html.

"The Native American Bear is a Popular American Indian Symbol." NativeNet - Dedicated to literature of Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <http://www.native-net.org/na/native-american-bear.html>.