Dale Auger is a Cree artist who lives in Bragg Creek Alberta. He says this work shows a Chief who has donned a bear’s skin in order to raise the Spirit of the Bear, to receive visions and work medicine to benefit his people. “Traditionally the bear is known as a disciplinarian and protector of children and community. You’d call on the bear to protect against the unknown,” says Dale.

• Notice the head of the person inside the bear’s mouth. What other human elements can you see?
• Imagine you are that person. What would it feel like? How would you move? What new abilities might you have? What kinds of things might you protect against?
• Notice the person’s mouth. Does it look fierce like the bears mouth? What noises do you think the person is making?
• Stand up and imagine you are wearing a heavy bear’s skin. Move around the room in this imaginary garb.
• Write a story or a poem from the perspective of the person in the painting. Start by answering the questions listed in the previous points.
• Notice the teeth and claws of the bear in this painting. These are sometimes still worn as symbols of courage. Why? (To obtain the bear teeth or claws, a hunter would have to kill the bear. This was not done lightly, especially before guns were available.) 
• If you could take on the shape and characteristics of any animal, what would it be? Draw, paint or write about yourself as that animal.