"Crane and Bear are important to the Anishinaabe people. In this picture, I see Bear patrolling the outskirts of the community, maintaining security while Crane prepares to return to the skies to observe the health and wellbeing of the people below from his vantage point, a place of leadership. Both quietly fulfil their important roles in the community, never far away and always with the people in mind." - Mike Alexander is an emerging Anishinaabe artist originally from Swan Lake First Nation in Treaty #1 territory, who lives on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. His spiritual name is Animikianikwad, or Thundercloud Man. A member of the Crane Clan, Mike's art serves to communicate stories and teachings of the Ojibway people
