téa drift rivera

Waterer / collector & bear protector

I just find it very disturbing that there are people that want to harm the bears. Growing up, I was always taught that they are our brothers and they're our sisters, and we should treat them with respect because they don't bother us. They're protectors. They're here to protect us. So vice versa, we need to protect them.

Téa Drift Rivera from Nett Lake Village speaks about the sacred kinship between people and bears, emphasizing respect, protection, and reciprocity. She reflects on traditional teachings that honor the bear’s sacrifice and condemns wasteful harm against these spiritual relatives. This story was collected as part of the Waterers Oral Histories Program.