Restoring Hope through Art and Culture
Medicine Bear, under the direction of RedStone Rodolfo Serna, a local community mural artist, seeks to bring healing and opportunity to our community by providing Indigenous art and culture programming. Originally Medicine Bear was providing spiritual guidance and cultural mentoring to at-risk youth, families, and the houseless community through traditional Native American Ceremony, Sobriety Promotion, and Education.
For the last 12 years Medicine Bear has been providing spiritual and cultural guidance to both the Native and non-Native communities. John Bravehawk’s leadership and commitment have been the driving force behind this effort. With the help of community volunteers, Medicine Bear is able to offer access to Native American ceremonies. These traditional Lakota ceremonies helps promote healing, sobriety, and general wellbeing. Communities served by Medicine Bear include at-risk youth, families, and the homeless.
Today the vision has grown to accommodate the community needs. The collective is currently working in Multnomah County Juvenile Detention Center as well as on various projects in schools and community centers.
The work in the detention center is focused on teaching art in a variety of mediums: printmaking, screen-printing, mural painting, ceramics and Aztec Dance. Several factors make this program unique and effective in reaching youth who are struggling to learn and use pro-social behaviors. For Latino and Native American youth, the connection to cultural traditions and knowledge is empowering and healing. Other youth learn about these cultures and receive support and mentorship. When youth are released, they are able to connect with the program in the community and continue to participate in any of the activities that inspired them. Multnomah County Juvenile Detention is the only county facility for youth in the state that has an Inipi ceremony. Native American and Latino youth have some of the highest rates of non-completion for high school. Research supports improved school attendance and engagement when these youth are given access to knowledge of their culture and history.
For our instructors they will not only bolster their professional resumes but receive vital training for working with our most vulnerable youth. Teaching artists and mentors will also be exposed to new art practices as they will be trained on how to collaborate as well.
Our Vision:
Medicine Bear community driven efforts are meant to give participants ownership and fellowship of where we live through the use of the arts and traditional practices. We are visual artists, singers, writers, dancers, and so much more but it is together that we aim to impact the neighborhoods we live in.
For the last 12 years Medicine Bear has been providing spiritual and cultural guidance to both the Native and non-Native communities. John Bravehawk’s leadership and commitment have been the driving force behind this effort. With the help of community volunteers, Medicine Bear is able to offer access to Native American ceremonies. These traditional Lakota ceremonies helps promote healing, sobriety, and general wellbeing. Communities served by Medicine Bear include at-risk youth, families, and the homeless.
Today the vision has grown to accommodate the community needs. The collective is currently working in Multnomah County Juvenile Detention Center as well as on various projects in schools and community centers.
The work in the detention center is focused on teaching art in a variety of mediums: printmaking, screen-printing, mural painting, ceramics and Aztec Dance. Several factors make this program unique and effective in reaching youth who are struggling to learn and use pro-social behaviors. For Latino and Native American youth, the connection to cultural traditions and knowledge is empowering and healing. Other youth learn about these cultures and receive support and mentorship. When youth are released, they are able to connect with the program in the community and continue to participate in any of the activities that inspired them. Multnomah County Juvenile Detention is the only county facility for youth in the state that has an Inipi ceremony. Native American and Latino youth have some of the highest rates of non-completion for high school. Research supports improved school attendance and engagement when these youth are given access to knowledge of their culture and history.
For our instructors they will not only bolster their professional resumes but receive vital training for working with our most vulnerable youth. Teaching artists and mentors will also be exposed to new art practices as they will be trained on how to collaborate as well.
Our Vision:
Medicine Bear community driven efforts are meant to give participants ownership and fellowship of where we live through the use of the arts and traditional practices. We are visual artists, singers, writers, dancers, and so much more but it is together that we aim to impact the neighborhoods we live in.