The Bear Track Symbol

Native American Indians were a deeply spiritual people and they communicated their history, thoughts, ideas and dreams from generation to generation through Symbols and Signs such as the Bear Track symbol. Native American symbols were geometric portrayals of celestial bodies, natural phenomena and animal designs. Animals were drawn as symbols which were taken as spiritual guides and stood for the qualities and traits of the animal that the symbol represented. The Bear symbol was important as it represented a protector and symbolized authority, physical strength and leadership. The tracks of a predator, such as a bear track, are used to indicate a direction and are also symbols of  leadership. The meaning of the Bear Track symbol was to signify a good omen and convey authority. Native American bird and animal symbols and totems are believed to represent the physical form of a spirit helper and guide.

Identifying bear tracks

Native Americans acquired outstanding tracking skills which enabled them to find and hunt the animals used for food, clothing, and tools.  The Native Americans learnt how to identify bear tracks by the shape and spread of the track. The length of the stride was also an indicator of the identity of an animal's track. Native Americans searched in soft mud or wet sand near water for animal tracks as these held tracks well and often yielded clearly identifiable prints. The claws of the bear were often used to create necklaces and were seen as symbols of bravery and the wearer was held in high esteem.

Picture of a Missouri Indian wearing a Grizzly Bear Claw Necklace

There were so many tribes of Native American Indians it is only possible to generalise the most common meaning of the Bear Track symbol or pattern. Native Indian symbols are still used as Tattoos and were used for a variety of reasons and depicted on numerous objects such as tepees, totem poles, musical instruments and clothes. Indian Tribes also used their own Colors for Symbols and designs depending on the natural resources available to make Native American Paint.

Bear track symbol

Native American Indians had a highly complex culture, especially those who lived on the Great Plains.

Their religion was dominated by rituals and belief in a spiritual connection with nature and these beliefs were reflected in the various symbols they used such as the Bear Track symbol.

The clothes, tepees and all of his belongings was decorated with art and included symbols depicting his achievements, acts of heroism, his various spirit guides or the most important events in his life. Every symbol used by an American Native Indian had meaning which can be accessed from Symbols and Meanings.