Biography
Bear Fox is a Mohawk woman of the wolf clan in Akwesasne. She married Sky Fox in the Longhouse and has 5 children. Bear is an accomplished singer and songwriter well known within Akwesasne and through-out the Confederacy. She is also a member of The Ahkwesahsne Women Singers (Kontiwennenha:wi), a traditional singing group. She has written many songs for Kontiwennenha:wi and has previously released a solo, acappella collection of her songs called "Bear Tracks"."Spirit Fire" is the first recording that she has done with contemporary instruments.
The songs on "Spirit Fire" reflect Bear’s life on the Ahkwesahsne Reserve, which spans the border between Northern New York State and Canada. One of fourteen children and the mother of five, family matters play a prime role in her writing. "Rich Girl", for instance, describes her experience growing up in a large family that struggled to make ends meet. "Ironworking Hubby" pays homage to the Ahkwesahsne tradition of high-steel work while also describing the frustrations felt by family members left home for extended periods.
Several songs are in the Mohawk Language. Bear has been attending a Mohawk Language class for the past two years. Learning her language is a priority for herself and her family. Which is evident in another song she has written called "Kanienkeha Blues".
In her own words Bear has described her musical ambitions by saying "I am hoping that my songs inspire our people to try to achieve their goals and dreams. That they will walk the good path and not rely on mind changers (drugs and alcohol). That our people will want to learn our culture and traditions, and hang on to the language because there are only a handful who are trying to hang on to the language for the future generations to come."
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