Bear Claw Necklace
The Cherokee have often seen the Black Bear of the “Smoking” Blue Ridge Mountains, as a symbol of a guide or as a spirit guide, an elder and an ally to the Cherokee people. Tales are told revealing their personal relationship with the bears in both the spirit world and in the physical world. The Cherokee not only revered the Black Bear as a spirit guide and personal totem, the black bear was also a resource for clothing, bedding, food, oil or grease, bone tools and jewelry-like adornments. A bear skull with hide could be used as a headdress while other items such as claws or robes of hide could be worn or used in their ceremonial practices, or worn as a sign of achievement by brave warriors or hunters.
