Spirit Bear

"Lyrics"

Spirit Bear song, sung by Red Shadow Singers.

Tribe: Anishinaabe / Ojibwe Dialect: Unknown

WAY YA WE YAH HO

YAH WAH OH HAY YA

YAH WAY OH HAY YA

WAY YAA WAY OH HAY YA

YAH WAY OH HAY YA

WAY YAA WAY OH HAY

“Ma ni tou ma kwa caa-bee-naa-go-zit” (The spirit bear is coming)

“Ma ni tou ma kwa peesh-a-way-na-mishi-nam” (The spirit bear is coming to love us)

Origin and Community: The Red Shadow Singers are a highly respected Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) traditional drum and singing group. They are the primary drum group for the Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness, which is located in the Sagkeeng First Nation in southeastern Manitoba, Canada.
Purpose of the Music: To the original peoples of this region, the drum represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. The Red Shadow Singers represent the Turtle Lodge by carrying sacred songs that were received through ceremony, fasting, and prayer. The group has explicitly asked that their songs be used in spiritual ways, specifically to offer healing and prayer to those who listen. Source: https://www.turtlelodge.org/staff-view/red-shadow-singers/

Release: The song—often referred to in the Anishinaabemowin language as Manidoo Makwa (Spirit Bear)—gained widespread recognition when it was recorded on the Red Shadow Singers' album, Ghost Dance Songs (initially released in 2004/2006).
Use in Ceremony: Because it is a ceremonial song rather than just a commercial track, it is frequently sung at powwows, healing ceremonies, and vigils across the United States and Canada to bring comfort to communities during times of grief or hardship. Source: https://www.discogs.com/release/7360256-The-Red-Shadow-Singers-Ghost-Dance-Songs

In Anishinaabe tradition, the Bear is one of the most sacred and revered animals, representing far more than just physical strength.

The Master of Medicine: The bear is considered the ogimaa (leader) of all animals when it comes to the knowledge of herbal and plant-based medicine. Because bears dig up roots and forage for berries, they are viewed as the ultimate teachers of natural medicine.
The Protector: The Bear represents the Bear Clan (Nooke doodem). In traditional tribal structure, members of the Bear Clan serve as the protectors (the police force) and the medics of the nation.
Renewal and Maternal Strength: A bear's yearly cycle of retreating into the earth for hibernation and emerging in the spring with new life is highly symbolic. It represents deep spiritual reflection, rebirth, and fierce maternal protection. When the Spirit Bear song is sung, it is specifically calling upon this energy—asking Grandmother Bear to provide safety, physical healing, and the courage to navigate difficult life journeys. Sources: https://www.zhaawanart.com/post/teachings-from-the-tree-of-life-part-15-spirit-bear-and-the-tree-of-life & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anishinaabe_clan_system