The Ute: Part Grizzly?

In centuries past, grizzly bears shaped like men performed a ritual dance every spring to rouse their furry relatives from hibernation. In gratitude, the man-shaped grizzlies received friendship and protection from their fang-toothed kin.

As preparations for the dance commenced, spirit messengers traveled from bear den to bear den, gently coaxing the snoozing inhabitants from their slumber. With the ceremony underway, the loud chanting of the singers, the relentless pounding of the drummers and the violent stomping of the dancers fully awakened the groggy grizzlies.

On the second day of the ritual, the dancers encouraged the female bears to flirt with the males, and on the third they provided atmosphere for the fruits of their labor — mating. On the fourth day, they sent the bears into the forest to find food.

The Bear Dance was practised by many tribes in western North America. It was based on the belief that Native Americans are grizzlies in human form who change back into bears upon death. As such, the dance had a second purpose, which was to send messages to deceased loved ones.

Also, part of the hope was that, in return for the wakeup call, the grizzlies would use their supernatural powers to help the tribe. It was believed that in addition to great wisdom, grizzlies possessed healing abilities, immortal invulnerability and similar magical powers, and that they knew the secrets of medicinal herbs. Knowing that grizzlies eat a broad mix of plants, and that they are incredibly difficult to kill with spears and handaxes, it's easy to see where this belief originated.