Medicine Bear: A Journey of Resilience, Healing, and Community Empowerment

Medicine Bear’s journey is one of profound resilience, growth, and transformation. Emerging from a past marked by hardship, violence, and personal struggle, Medicine Bear (Jadeon Rathgeber) has reshaped his life into one of healing, cultural preservation, and community service. Today, his lived experience, strength, and cultural wisdom serve as a powerful force for positive change, inspiring youth and families across Turtle Island.

Born and raised in a First Nations community in Northern Manitoba, Medicine Bear comes from a proud lineage of artists, knowledge keepers, and cultural leaders. His early years were steeped in the rich traditions of his Cree and Rocky Cree heritage, but the realities of racism and identity struggles shaped his path. As a light-skinned Indigenous youth, he faced bullying from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peers, creating an early sense of isolation and confusion.

By age 16, Medicine Bear was pulled into the dangerous world of gangs — a chapter that led to 13 years of violence, survival, and trauma. He endured kidnapping, shootings, and near-death experiences, including being stabbed five times in the chest, and he spent six years within Canada’s prison system. Yet even within these darkest moments, the seeds of transformation were quietly taking root.

At age 28, everything changed. Medicine Bear reconnected with his family, particularly his mother, Half Moon Woman, a respected birch bark biting artist. Through her, he met Gyuauustees, a master carver who became both mentor and ceremonial uncle, showing him that carving was more than art — it was a healing practice and a spiritual lifeline. At the same time, Medicine Bear discovered he had a daughter, Desiree, a revelation that fueled his determination to break free from cycles of violence and addiction.

Since that turning point, Medicine Bear has walked a clean and sober path for over 17 years, devoting himself to cultural restoration, Indigenous artistry, and community healing. Through Medicine Bear Arts, he shares his carvings, jewelry, and teachings across North America and Europe, while offering Positive Youth Engagement Talks that draw on his life experience to help others avoid the traps he once fell into.

These workshops are not just lectures — they are living, breathing sessions rooted in raw truth, cultural strength, and practical wisdom. Medicine Bear speaks directly to youth, parents, and community members about the dangers of gangs, the false promises of street life, the devastation of drugs, and the profound importance of reclaiming cultural identity. His story is proof that radical change is possible, and his workshops are crafted to empower, educate, and inspire the next generation to make choices that lead to a stronger, healthier future.

If you are interested in bringing a Medicine Bear Positive Youth Engagement Workshop to your community, we warmly invite you to reach out. Whether during an upcoming tour or as part of a dedicated visit, Medicine Bear is committed to helping communities strengthen their youth and reclaim hope.

Please use the booking calendar below to secure your session, or contact us directly for more details. Together, we can uplift the youth of Turtle Island and build a brighter, united future.

 All My Relation's
Maskihkiy Muskwa 
   Medicine Bear