“In American Indian mythology and medical practice, the Mudjekeewis (the Grizzly Bear), Spirit Keeper of the West and the Chief of the Council of all Spirit Keepers and Animal Totems, is a symbol signifying responsibility, resourcefulness, intelligence, wisdom, introspection, physical and spiritual strength, and expertise.

A problem solver, the Mudjekeewis uses both his hands and his heart to find ways to do things that will benefit both himself and all of his brothers and sisters.

Twenty years ago, when we began to build the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, under Dr. Joseph Simone’s guidance, we chose the Mudjekeewis as our symbol, as this Great Spirit Keeper represents our commitment to using our hands and our hearts to serve those whose lives have been touched by cancer, and to do so with courage, knowledge, grace, and great ability.”

Extract from 'Simone, the Mudjekeewis, the elder, the statesman of the cancer world,' by Cheryl Willman, MD, Maurice and Marguerite Liberman Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, UNM Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine, Director and CEO, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center; published in The Cancer Letter, 1/19/2021, Vol.47 No.04.