Bear Fox always heard melodies come to her, but she didn’t realize her gift of songwriting until she was 23. “This is when I began writing songs for our traditional women group, Kontiwennenhawi. Kontiwennenhawi means carriers of the words.”

“The first songs I wrote were in the Mohawk language. I did not start writing English songs until 2001. The very first song to become popular was Rich Girl. It’s a story about my life growing up in Akwesasne, Mohawk territory, growing up in a family rich with love.”

Although Bear Fox’s parent spoke the language she did not grow up fluent. “I know our native language needs to carry on. So I feel that by putting the language into the songs, I’m helping to do that”.