[3] Adopted by a white middle-class Christian family, he learned of his heritage after reconnecting with his biological mother as an adult.

Nahko and Medicine for the People play a fusion of styles often called world music, or worldbeat.

[7][8][9] Nahko and Medicine for the People have toured with Nattali Rize, Rebelution, Michael Franti, Trevor Hall, Dispatch, Xavier Rudd, and SOJA.

[14] On July 8, 2020, following accusations from multiple individuals of sexually inappropriate behavior, Bear resigned from the board of Honor the Earth.

On August 10, 2020, he shared a statement on the band's Facebook page, in which he expressed regret to the women he had harmed through his inappropriate actions and disputed allegations against him as false.