News From Native California - Spring 2015 Volume 28, Issue 3 | Page 7

BEAR
DANCE
Photo essay by Dugan Aguilar

BEAR DANCE AND THE NEW YEAR
Written by Frank LaPena

the bear dance is important to the people. It’s a time of confirmation of family
ties and friendship. It establishes our ongoing actions with the universe and puts us
in touch with the land and animals in our
immediate surroundings
We do the dance four times to start it and
let everyone know what’s going on. Then
another four times to do the ceremony. We
use wormwood for blessing, to talk to the
bear, by brushing the bear with it. At the
end we go down to the river to make our
blessings.
An elder once said of the early morning activities, just before the bear hide and
flag are put up, as he walked to prepare and
make the prayer and sunrise blessing for the

ceremony, he was aware of all those who
had gone before him. Thinking of them and
events of the years gone by, all was focused
and centered on prayer. The attention to
human things such as death, birth, love, and
friendship are connected in the ceremony to
the holy spirit and the new year.
The Bear Dance is a time to pay respect
to rattlesnake and bear, who are important to the land and people according to the
Maidu people. The Bear Dance ceremony
is an expression of thankfulness for the new
year. Many people, friends and relatives, are
involved in helping to make the dance work,
providing the food and necessities. One
comes away with fond memories and ready
for the Maidu New Year. ▼

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