Since being elected as Chief of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation in 1994, Chief Bear has earned broad recognition for his economic, business and community development achievements.

He holds a Business Administration Certificate and Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Saskatchewan. A respected business leader, he has volunteered on boards and committees for the Saskatoon Economic Development Authority, SaskTel, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, and the Lands Advisory Board, to name a few. He has also advocated to both federal and provincial governments for First Nations participation as an equal partner in the Building Canada Fund infrastructure programs.

During his tenure as Chief, he has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (the most prestigious civilian honour for merit in the province of Saskatchewan), the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 (recognizing commitment to service), and most recently, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Hall of Lifetime Achievement Award 2016.