My name is Ceanna Willis, and together with my partner Lucious Dennehy we founded Bear’s Essence here in Treaty Six Territory in Alberta.

I am Cree and Nakoda Sioux from Enoch Cree Nation, and Lucious is Cree from Samson Cree Nation. As young Indigenous entrepreneurs and parents building our family, we created Bear’s Essence as a way to share our culture, creativity, and vision with the world.

For us, Bear’s Essence is about more than jewelry. It is about creating space for Indigenous artists, makers, and entrepreneurs while celebrating Indigenous identity through art and design.

Our work often incorporates meaningful materials such as dentalium shells, mother of pearl, abalone, and natural stones, blending traditional elements with contemporary Indigenous style.

The name Bear’s Essence represents strength, protection, and family. Much of our inspiration comes from the symbolism of the bear and cub, reflecting guidance, love, and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next.

As young parents, building Bear’s Essence is also about the future we are creating for our children. We want them to grow up seeing that our culture, creativity, and identity can thrive in business and art.

Through Bear’s Essence, Lucious and I hope to continue growing something that uplifts Indigenous creativity, supports community, and helps create more space for Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs.