Medicine Bear
Programs
Artist Apprenticeship Program
The Artist Apprenticeship Program is at the heart of Medicine Bear’s work—where creativity, mentorship, and cultural identity come together. Designed for emerging artists and system-impacted youth, the program offers hands-on experience in public art, mural-making, and traditional creative practices while connecting participants to community, culture, and purpose. Over the course of the program, youth learn every stage of the artistic process—from concept design and material preparation to large-scale painting and installation.
Participants engage in a structured cycle of cultural explorations, art‑making workshops, and mentoring circles. Youth work alongside professional artists to design and realize mural panels, mixed‑media installations, or cultural iconography that speak to their stories, strengths, and pathways toward healing. The program offers a safe space for reflection, creative expression, and visioning a positive future beyond detention.
By centering ceremony, culture, and community connection, the RedStone Collective fosters resilience, purpose, and agency among youth. The program not only empowers participants to reshape the environment around them but also supports their transition back into the community with renewed identity, creative skills, and cultural grounding.
For Systems Involved Youth
The Redstone Collective— Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center
The RedStone Collective is a culturally grounded arts and healing initiative inside the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center, offering system‑impacted youth the opportunity to reconnect with identity, culture, and purpose through expressive creation. Developed by Medicine Bear, the program addresses the roots of disconnection—including historical trauma, cultural disenfranchisement, and lack of community voice—by integrating Indigenous and Latino traditions with visual arts and mentorship.
Under the guidance of professional artists and cultural practitioners, participants develop both artistic skills and personal leadership. They also engage in reflection circles, cultural teachings, and community service projects that strengthen confidence, responsibility, and connection to place. The program culminates in a public art unveiling or community event, celebrating youth achievements and giving them a platform to share their voices. Through this experience, participants not only become artists—they become mentors, storytellers, and future leaders in their communities
Other Programs & Projects
Joven Noble Rite of Passage Workshops
The Joven Noble program is a culturally based rites-of-passage curriculum that guides young people toward leadership, balance, and responsibility. Rooted in Indigenous teachings and the philosophy of living in harmony with self, family, community, and creation, the program provides a safe space for participants to explore identity, values, and purpose.
Through group circles, storytelling, and mentorship, participants learn the principles of respect, dignity, and accountability. Sessions incorporate cultural ceremonies, art, and discussions that help youth understand their emotions, choices, and the impact they have on others. Facilitators create supportive environments where trust and healing can grow, encouraging participants to break cycles of harm and reclaim their sacred role as community leaders.
Joven Noble is more than an educational program—it is a journey of transformation. It reconnects young people to ancestral wisdom, guiding them to walk the path of the noble young person: one who honors their community, their lineage, and their purpose.
Community Art Projects & Consultation
Medicine Bear collaborates with schools, nonprofits, local governments, and tribal organizations to design and lead community-driven art projects that promote healing, cultural pride, and connection. Each project begins with relationship-building and storytelling, ensuring that the final artwork reflects the voices, histories, and values of the people it represents. From murals and public art installations to collaborative youth projects, our approach integrates traditional teachings, contemporary design, and hands-on engagement. Artists, youth, and community members work together to create meaningful visual narratives that celebrate culture and place.
In addition to producing public artworks, Medicine Bear provides consultation services for organizations seeking guidance in cultural engagement, youth mentorship, and community arts programming. With years of experience in trauma-informed practices and large-scale mural facilitation, we help partners develop creative strategies that are inclusive, respectful, and rooted in cultural integrity.
Cultural Presentations & Healing Ceremonies
Medicine Bear offers Native American healing ceremonies and cultural presentations that honor the spiritual traditions of our ancestors while fostering community wellness and connection. Our healing practices include smudging, singing, prayer, and meditation, creating sacred spaces for reflection, balance, and renewal. These ceremonies are guided by experienced cultural practitioners who share traditional teachings with authenticity and respect.
Medicine Bear also provides cultural presentations such as pow wow drumming, traditional dancing, and storytelling for community gatherings, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, staff retreats, funerals, and other special events. Each offering is rooted in the intention of unity, healing, and cultural pride—bringing people together through song, movement, and story to honor both life and community.