The Bear (Mato) in Native American Beliefs – Strength, Healing, and Connection to Earth

Bear (Mato) wearing a traditional Native American feather headdress

In Native American traditions across North America, the bear is far more than a creature of the forest. Known in the Lakota language as Mato, the bear represents strength, healing, protection, and deep spiritual connection to the earth. For centuries, Native peoples have revered the bear as a powerful relative, a guardian spirit, and a … Read more