It is unique as a place where in 1857 the Meskwaki bought land privately for the tribe, like other citizens, authorized by state legislation.
[2] Young Bear spoke Meskwaki as his first language, taught by his maternal grandmother; she also encouraged him to learn English.
[2] Other influences that Ray Young Bear attributes his writing to are the journals of his grandfathers that date back to the early 1800s.
As a youth, Young Bear attended an Upward Bound program at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
Through Robert Bly, Young Bear was able to meet with many editors that ultimately led to his work getting published.
[3] Young Bear also studied at Pomona College between 1969 and 1971, where he took advantage of the chance to hear readings by visiting poets.
[1] Young Bear first wrote poetry in Meskwaki and began to translate his work into English, publishing his first poem in 1968.
[2] Young Bear and his family formed the Woodland Drum Group in 1983 to entertain other Native Americans by participating in tribal celebrations.