The Bear is My Father: Indigenous Wisdom of a Muscogee Creek Caretaker of Sacred Ways

by Bear Heart, Reginah Waterspirit

The Bear Is My Indigenous Wisdom of a Muscogee Creek Caretaker of Sacred Ways is considered a love story between Bear Heart and a community that stretches across the globe. This book celebrates the life, teachings and legacy of Marcellus Bear Heart Williams, a Multi-Tribe Spiritual Leader and author of the critically-acclaimed The Wind is My Mother.
Bear Heart (1918 - 2008), was a Muscogee Creek Native American Church Road Man with a talent for seeing people as individuals, and for making them feel seen and special in their own ways. The Bear Is My Indigenous Wisdom of a Muscogee Creek Caretaker of Sacred Ways contains the final words Bear Heart wrote before his “going on” as well as contributions from friends and family whose lives were forever changed by Bear Heart’s presence and work. In this new book, Bear Heart uses stories of his youth and traditional medicine practices to convey lessons and knowledge about living in harmony and with respect for all.
Offering a mix of history and spiritual wisdom, The Bear is My Father is co-authored by Reginah WaterSpirit, Bear Heart's Medicine Helper and wife of 23 years. 
When Reginah would ask Bear Heart exactly how he made his medicine, he always answered, “I don’t make the medicine, it was here before me. I’ve been entrusted to be a caretaker of certain sacred ways.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Native American, Spirituality, Memoir, History, Indigenous

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 11, 2022

Reviews

[Theresa Jump · Rating 5 out of 5]

One particular highlight was Bear Heart's mention of the importance of the implementation of a rites of passage into our culture-at-large. He acknowledged at his age this was something he couldn't do himself, and asked the following generations to do so. He believed the addition of this tradition is a possible road to peace.

[Mollie Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my friends knew Bear Heart personally. I loved the first book - The Wind is my Mother - this second book was a bit disappointing to me.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. I'll need to sit with grandpa Bear Heart awhile.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I like his other book better, this summarizes what other people had to say about this great man.

[Serena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m having a really hard time reviewing this because on one hand, I think what Bear Heart intended was honorable but also, I can’t get on board with it. The content was pretty frilly and basic and just full of “Native American wisdom and quotes” of the kind yt ppl turn into “Indian parables” and sayings. Cheesy stuff. Additionally, the books formatting was weird, with so many essays written by people who knew him to fill in the space I think from his passing away and not being able to hash out the rest of the book. It’s flow was weird because of it, but also, I just can’t agree with how many ceremonial practices he ousts and talks openly about or brings white people into, like hosting whole ass “native spirituality retreats” for non-natives and doing sweat lodges with them and letting them use eagle feathers and then carry on these things themselves?? Nope. Hard nope. I don’t share his opinions on bringing everyone into the fold with our religious practices and viewpoints on ceremony and culture. This is why the Native American Church has a bad reputation and why everyone thinks it was white washed- people like him making it that way.