What were native peoples' attitudes toward bears?

The once-famed cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) cult among Neanderthal man is undoubtedly a fiction, although cave bear bones may have later influenced legends of dragons and dragon-lairs in the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, humans have long felt a kinship with bears. Bear symbolism is potent, complex, and varied among cultures, but, in general, the animals were peculiarly respected among Nearctic aborigines because of the animals' purported resemblance to humans and their perceived ability to transcend domains. The bear's ability to hibernate was viewed as conveying a unique view of the underworld and the animal's qualities as a mediator between humans and gods. Similarly, the bear's diverse diet and relentless search for food promoted its identity as an icon for primitive hunter-gatherers. Legends of bear foster parents and bear lovers were also recurrent mythological themes. A classic study of bear ceremonialism concluded that "No other animal was found to attain such universal prominence ...  more