Restoring Indigenous Legal Order with André Bear

André Bear, B.Ed., J.D., is a Nêhîyaw advocate of Inherent and Treaty rights. He earned both his Juris Doctor and his Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan. At 21 years old, he was appointed as an advisor to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations for the implementation of TRC Call to Action 66. He is a former director of the Indigenous Bar Association and the Canadian Juries Commission. He was recently appointed to the board of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. In 2021, André founded Indigenous Nation Rebuilding, a consulting firm dedicated to revitalizing the practice of Indigenous law.

In this episode, Shayla and André talk about: growing up in foster care, the spiritual awakening that changed his path at 15, how Sundance helped his mom get sober, facing racism and “pretendians” in law school, the spirit helper who carried him through his law exams prophetic dreams, why the Indian Act can never heal our families, his vision of a future where we no longer need a child welfare system. They close with a tender conversation about matriarchy, grief and the parents who walk with us. André explains why he carries Pokémon into government meetings, and Shayla shares a moving story about her late father. Season 6, Indigenous Voices of This Generation, is presented in partnership with the Indigenous Screen Office and YouTube Canada. Recorded on Treaty 13 territory in Tkaronto and produced by Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome & introducing André Bear 00:02:20 André introduces himself and his Spirit name 00:02:45 The Pikachu gift and why André carries Pokémon everywhere 00:04:20 Dr. Cindy Blackstock and the Spirit Bear 00:05:03 Turning pain into power: a spiritual awakening at 15 00:07:22 Homelessness, his mom’s sobriety and his first Sundance 00:08:54 Lessons from The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew 00:10:12 Honouring the sacredness of ceremony 00:11:51 Creator’s law vs. colonial law 00:14:26 Racism and “pretendians” in law school 00:17:09 The spirit helper who got him through law exams 00:19:40 Advice for youth disconnected from ceremony 00:22:12 Getting scolded by the aunties at Sundance 00:23:05 Gender roles in ceremony and a Two-Spirit perspective 00:24:13 Losing his adoptive father and being guided to a new teacher 00:25:02 Dreams and becoming a clear channel for spirit 00:26:09 Psychic dreams: snakes, spiders and warnings 00:28:50 The yellow snake spirit of Lake Ontario 00:31:21 Why André shares his dreams publicly 00:32:31 Fasting, moon dance, and Sundancing in Cree and Dakota lodges 00:34:52 Walking into colonial spaces unshakable 00:37:12 Spirituality for non-Indigenous people too 00:37:54 Lateral violence and why he deleted Facebook 00:39:59 Forgiveness and how fast prayer works 00:42:22 “Pray as if your life depends on it” 00:44:53 Smudging with students as a high school teacher 00:46:30 Founding Indigenous Nation Rebuilding 00:48:55 Why the Indian Act must be dismantled 00:50:28 Treaty vs. status, and being seen as human in Canadian law 00:52:35 Grief, forgiveness and healing at the roots 00:54:10 Indigenous futurism and the hand of Creator 00:57:38 What “matriarch” means to André 00:58:49 Shayla’s father’s story 01:04:00 André’s upcoming book and where to find him Follow André Find more of André’s advocacy below: Instagram: @abearlaw TikTok: @abearlaw For keynotes and consulting: https://www.ination.ca/public-speaking 📖 His book is coming soon. Stay tuned! #MatriarchMovement #IndigenousVoices #AndréBear #Nêhîyaw #TwoSpirit #IndigenousSovereignty #IndianAct #ChildWelfare #Sundance #IndigenousLaw #IndigenousFuturism #TurtleIsland #IndigenousPodcast

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