Makwa Zoongide'ewin

Messages of protection for our makwa (bear) relatives

circa 2025

Makwa Zoongide'ewin presents cultural understanding of bears and their medicinal and spiritual roles within Ojibwe culture. The series incudes interviews and audiograms that share stories and reflections from the Drift/Benner Family of Nett Lake Village, Bois Forte Nation. Four generations speak about their deep and enduring relationship with the bears that share their homeland. Through voices of elders and youth, listeners learn about the Bear Clan, cultural teachings, and the balance of respect, protection, and coexistence that defines Ojibwe life. These stories reveal how ancestral knowledge, humor, and spiritual connection should continue to guide the community’s understanding of kinship with the natural world. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Will Peters for generously sharing his knowledge in support of this work.

click here to listen to our stories on spotify

click here to listen to our stories on spotify /