mavis drift & Serena logan

Waterers / collectorS & bear protectors

What clan you follow is given to you during your naming ceremony. The Bear Clan symbolizes bravery - zoongide'ewin . For me, the bear means family connection, connection to the spirit world and having the strength to be brave.

Mavis Drift, an elder from Nett Lake Village, shares teachings about the Bear Clan and its deep meaning in Ojibwe culture—symbolizing bravery, family, and spiritual protection. She reflects on the importance of naming ceremonies and the guidance they offer in understanding one’s connection to the spirit world.

Mavis’s great grandaughter Serena Logan, is a youth from Nett Lake Village. Following in Mavis’s footsteps, Serena expresses her heartfelt wish to protect the bears and honor their place in Ojibwe culture. Her words reflect a deep sense of care and responsibility for the natural world and its sacred beings.

Their stories were collected as part of the Waterers Oral Histories Program.