Bear Paws Cultural Art

Bear Paws Cultural Art was founded in June 2023 and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation in December 2023.

At Bear Paws Cultural Art, our mission is to revitalize Ojibwe cultural heritage, foster mutual understanding and respect with our neighbors, and facilitate community healing through art.

Since our establishment, Bear Paws has become a vibrant hub for free cultural art workshops open to the public. Our Maadaoonidiwag program, meaning "sharing knowledge" in Ojibwe, showcases the richness of our cultural art, allowing participants to explore traditional techniques and foster a deeper appreciation for our heritage.

We have conducted several workshops in the Pine, Aitkin, and Mille Lacs counties, attracting over 900 enthusiastic participants. Our workshops cover a variety of captivating subjects, including beadwork, hand-painted leather belts and bells, Ojibwe pucker toe moccasins, ribbon skirts, drums and drumsticks, and the creation of nine-block blankets, Jingle Dress Regalia, Men’s Woodlands Regalia, Women’s Woodlands Appliqué, and Men’s Fancy Bustle Regalia, and an Appliqué Bandolier bag.

To support underserved community members, we launched a meaningful regalia donation program. During our annual traditional powwows in East Lake (MacGregor) and Mille Lacs (Onamia) we provided a variety of regalia items, helping to foster a sense of belonging and cultural pride among the recipients.

Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every member of our community has access to cultural workshops to promote education and to drive the changes we aspire to see. We firmly believe that meaningful change can only come from unified efforts. 

By sharing our knowledge and embracing and revitalizing our cultural heritage within our community, we are hopeful that we can usher in the healing that our community so desperately needs.