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The Bear Clan
There were three very large Indian clans in North America (sorry if I'm missing
any others that were equally large). Each had a particular re sponsibility: the
Bear Clan was responsible for all matters pertaining to the earth such as
land-ownership, usage and transfer; the Waterspirit Clan cared for
all matters relating to the rivers and lakes; and the Thunderbird Clan
was responsible for all matters of the air.
The Hopi Prophet, White Feather, was a member of
the ancient Bear Clan. sometimes known as the makwa.
The Bear Clan is a part of the Lower (or Earth) moiety based in
 what is
now Wisconsin. Members of the clan are known as
manâpe, or soldiers, although their function is more like that of police and guardians.
They assume these special powers only as required by the
Thunderbird
Chief. More interestingly, certain members of the
manâpe were called when there was widespread sickness amongst the
tribes. The Thunderbird chief
would convene with the Bear Clan chief and would say:
"My Soldier, I am
offering you tobacco,
for our people have been stricken with disease."
Then, ce rtain
members of the clan, women as well as men, would perform a healing dance,
circling the village four times during the ceremony. During these circuits of the village,
the Soldier Dancers would visit each sick person and lay their hands on
their bodies, calling upon the Bear Spirit to heal them.
Members of the Bear Clan take
special names alluding to bears, but rarely using the word 'bear', for
bears were considered to be almost human and needed to be respected
(this is also true of other people throughout Asia and Northern Europe).
Examples of names include Gûziriga (Created One ) and Hûgitega (Prophet).
Of coure, there are some exceptions: Hûtcskaga (White B ear),
Mâtco-icdjajiripga
(Grizzly with Striped eyes, and Hûdj-huréga (Black Bear Coming). White Feather's name
shares the spirit of some other Bear Clan names such as Kaghiskaga (White
Crow), and Wamâksgaga (White Breast), but
definitely alludes to Bear and also to the healing powers of
feathers.
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