Brother Bear is a sweet story based on Inuit culture that takes the audience on an unexpected journey to discover the true meaning of brotherhood. Get resources to create your own family movie night inspired by Brother Bear complete with a full menu, recipes and educational activities.
About brother Bear
Brother Bear was released in 2003 by Walt Disney Pictures. It is a beautiful film set in the post Ice age Pacific northwest. The film is based on the Inuit culture. The Inuit people originally made their homes along the Alaskan coast but migrated to other far northern areas including Canada. Their lives were influenced by the Tundra environment in which they lived. They made clothing from animal skins and furs to stay warm and learned to make homes from ice and snow. Because the harsh climate didn’t allow farming, the Inuit lived off meat from hunting wild animals including fish, whales, seals, and walrus. They also foraged for wild berries. The Inuit used sled dogs and kayaks to travel long distances and build Inukshuks {piles of stones} to mark their paths during travel.
My parents purchased a fishing resort in northwest Ontario, Canada in 1992 and have made Canada their home during the summer months. The beautiful north woods have become my second home. Though Brother Bear is set in Alaska, so many of the geographic features and details in the film remind me of the north woods of Canada.
The Tablescape & Decor
We had fun creating a north woods feel with a richly colored tablecloth and natural greens, hypericum berries, pine cones, and carved wooden candle sticks.
We used ivory place settings and paprika colored napkins to compliment the color scheme of our paisley tablecloth. Anna also had fun creating diamond fold napkins with a little sprig of cedar tucked in the pocket. Napkin folding is similar to origami and she enjoys making creative designs for special occasions.
The Menu
We enjoyed learning about foods of the Inuit culture. Our menu choices were inspired by their diet of berries, wild rice, and mushrooms. We incorporated some Canadian elements into our menu with Canadian Cheddar Cheese soup and a wild blueberry crisp.
Canadian Cheese Soup
This rich, creamy, flavorful Canadian Cheddar Cheese soup is the ultimate comfort food! This Disney fan favorite from Le Cellier Restaurant in the Canada pavilion of Epcot is popular for a reason. We developed a vegetarian version and found it quite simple to make. It was our favorite dish of the dinner! Get our recipe here.
Mixed Greens with Berries & Walnuts
There are few things as delicious as wild berries foraged from the north woods. We enjoyed a salad composed of mixed greens, a maple vinaigrette, walnuts, goat cheese, and a trio of fresh berries. Delicious! Get our recipe here.
Mushroom & Wild Rice Risotto
This dish is super comforting and packed with delicious flavors of the north woods: wild rice, mushrooms, and herbs. If you enjoy wild rice this is a must try. It’s quite hearty and is a great vegetarian dish for meat eaters too. Get the recipe from All Recipes here.
Individual Blueberry Crisps
Blueberry crisp served with vanilla ice cream is a classic favorite! Each year when our family visits Ontario, my parents send us home with a bucket of Canadian wild blueberries. They are so good! We ration them out through the year to make them last and this was an appropriate occasion to enjoy them. This delightful dessert can be served with whipped cream or a la mode and will delight your guests!
Inuit Learning Resources
Art Projects
Polar Bear Pattern Art from Crafty Classroom with free printable
Ted Harrison Art Projects for Kids from Artsy Craftsy Mom
Northern Lights with Watercolors from the Pinterested Parent
Documentary
Our family enjoyed this comprehensive look at the culture, history and attractions of Canada from coast to coast. It is a beautiful country! The documentary can be viewed here for free on YouTube.
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