About The Artist

David Lone Bear Sanipass is a Mi’kmaq elder, master storyteller, master flute player, master flute maker, and cultural educator from the Mi'kmaq Nation. For more than 35 years, he has traveled throughout Maine, Atlantic Canada, and across the United States sharing stories that connect people to culture, land, and community. Known for his warmth, humor, and powerful stage presence, Lone Bear blends traditional teachings, music, and personal experience to create engaging presentations that bring people together across cultures and generations.

A respected speaker and cultural ambassador, he has presented in schools, universities, museums, libraries, festivals, and international gatherings. His work centers on Indigenous knowledge, community building, and the living traditions of the Wabanaki peoples. Lone Bear has spoken to audiences ranging from small community gatherings to crowds of more than 62,000 people. He has also spoken at global events including the Parliament of the World's Religions and presented programs at the Heard Museum, one of the leading institutions dedicated to Indigenous arts and culture.

An accomplished musician, Lone Bear is widely recognized as a master flute player and flute maker. His performances blend traditional Native flute music with storytelling and cultural interpretation. He has performed with renowned ensembles including the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Portland String Quartet, bringing Indigenous music to classical and contemporary audiences.

Lone Bear is also a traditional artist whose handcrafted flutes and cultural tools are held in permanent museum collections, including the Abbe Museum, the Hudson Museum, the Maine Historical Society, and the Portland Museum of Art, among others.

Through storytelling, music, and cultural teaching, David Lone Bear Sanipass invites audiences to reflect on who we are as people, how we care for the earth, and how communities can come together on common ground.