Students will:

• Be familiar with local legends and stories about bears. (K-3)

• Know that the bear is the most powerful of the animals and as such, has been given autonomy by the Creator. The bear has powerful medicine even in the world today, and it is believed that it can retaliate against people spiritually. (4-6)

• Know about the spiritual powers of the bear. (3-6)

  • It is one of the animals that can read the minds of people.

  • The bear has the power to see the future.

  • The bear has the power to avenge itself.

  • The bear has the power to change the mind of his seekers and therefore cannot be found. (Deline)

  • The bear has the power to disappear when it is angered by your words. (Deline)

• Be familiar with local knowledge about how the spiritual powers of the bear can be used. (K-6)

  • In bad weather the head of a bear is placed on a pole with a stick in its mouth to keep it open. If it is addressed properly, and if it is pleased, it will grant you good weather. (Deline)

  • If certain parts of the human body need medical attention, the corresponding part of the bear can be removed. A message is given to the bear for its help, the bear part is eaten, and with the bear's help that person can be healed. (Deline)

  • Dogrib: gall bladder for open sores.

• Be able to address the bear properly (ùehtsee) Respected Grandfather and K'aowe (leader of animals). (K-3)

• Know that the disappearance of bears from earth means the disappearance of all. (5-6)

• Know which parts of the bear you cannot eat. (K-4)

• Be able to give thanks to the Creator for the bear. (K-4)

• Respect bears when they are hibernating. (K-4)

• Bear hide never used for clothing (taboo of South Slavey Dene).

• Bear hide not to be handled by women.

Experiences:

• Hear local legends about the Bear. (K-6)

• How the Raven Took Back the Sun from the Bear (Deline)

• The Man that Lived with Bear (Deline)

• How the Raven Took Back the Fox's Arm from the Bear (includes a song) (L. Taniton, Deline)

• The Talking Bear of Saoyu (Wm. Sewi, Deline)

• Share stories from personal experience. (K-6)

• Bear cub climbed a tree and heard itself served as a meal and disappeared. (G. Kodakin, Deline)

• A man angered the bear and therefore the bear disappeared. (G. Blondin)

• Joe Suzie Mackenzie's story of an infected arm healed by the power of the bear.

• How as a young man a bear nearly killed him. (SJ Mackenzie)

• Speaking to four bears. (G. Blondin)

• Identify landmarks referred to in bear stories while on the land. (3-6)

• Students retell legends.

Students will:

• Be willing to approach elders for stories about the bear. (4-6)

• Be willing and able to listen to the legends and stories told by the elders about the bear. (K-6)

• Know that men are the key hunters of bear. (K-3)

• Share with others the stories that are heard. (K-6)

Experiences:

• Ask grandparents or familiar elder for stories about the bear. (K-6)

• Share with one another bear stories they have heard. (K-6)