First Nations Kids Drum Traditional Song — and Grizzly Bears Come to Listen

In a moment both powerful and surreal, a group of Squamish Nation children performed a traditional song at Grouse Mountain — and watched in awe as two curious grizzly bears emerged from the trees to listen.

The children, part of a drumming group called the Proud Little Warriors, had traveled to the Grouse Mountain wildlife sanctuary near Vancouver on Sunday. As they gathered in front of the grizzly bear enclosure, they began to sing and drum the Grizzly Bear Song, passed down from hereditary Chief Ian Campbell.

What happened next was captured on video: as the rhythmic drumming echoed across the sanctuary, two grizzly bears slowly walked out of the woods and approached the fence, gazing at the young performers.

“It felt really amazing … I felt so blessed when they came really close to us,” said 10-year-old Jonah Nahanee, one of the young drummers.

A Cultural Moment Goes Viral

The video has since gone viral, racking up more than a million views online and drawing attention from viewers around the world — many of whom reached out in different languages to share their appreciation.

“I’m happy to get our language and our culture out there — to let people know that we’re still here,” said Jonah’s mother Jennifer Nahanee, who leads the group and filmed the encounter.

“I don’t always know what the words mean, but I can feel it in my Sḵwálwen — in my heart,” she added.
“I shed a tear when they were singing up at Grouse Mountain, just seeing how far they’ve come.”

The children, aged 10 to 11, have been learning Squamish language, drumming, and songs for years. Their deep connection to the culture was evident not just in the performance, but in the emotional weight of the moment.

“I think we've been doing this for three or two years, and I just love singing for my culture,” said Thomas Jacobs, who noted it was the closest he’d ever been to a grizzly.

Bears, Song, and Spirit

The Grizzly Bear Song, according to Nahanee, speaks to the deep relationship between Squamish people and nature — especially the revered bear. The bears’ approach during the performance felt symbolic, almost spiritual, to many who witnessed it.

The Proud Little Warriors practice monthly and are part of a wider movement to revitalize Indigenous language and culture through music, education, and community.

For the children and their community, the experience was more than just a performance — it was a living act of cultural preservation.

“We know our culture and our songs,” said Nahanee. “And Squamish Nation people are still here.”