Rabbit and Bear Paws "The 18th century will never be the same"

This fresh and funny comic strip for the young and young at heart is created and drawn with the guidance of his Community Elders in collaboration with writer Christopher Meyer. The first series of comic strips are based upon the teachings of the Seven Grandfathers (wisdom from the Anishinabek community) and are rapidly gaining enthusiastic fans for their vibrant and entertaining images of Native Traditions and Oral History.

Entertaining using Traditional Aboriginal values and humour is Chad's goal in creating the characters of Rabbit and Bear Paws. Chad found commercial success in 2003 with the release of two children's fairytales, "Pied Piper" and the "Ten Commandments". Chad became aware that there were few really cool comic book stories for the young people of his own Native community and that many of those representations of the personalities and cultures of the Native people in existing books were often negative stereotypes. With Rabbit and Bear Paws, Chad has succeeded in creating a positive image for Native youth.

Legendary artist Neal Adams (Batman, X-Men, Dr.Kildare) had this to say about Chad's approach "We have waited a long time for a comic strip from a North American Indian about North American Indians. It looks like that time has come. Kudos for our brothers."

World-famous cartoonist Lynn Johnston (For Better or for Worse) calls RABBIT AND BEAR PAWS "funny", with "insights into areas other cartoonists have not yet explored."

Rabbit and Bear Paws is set in 18th Century colonized North America and follows the story of two mischievous Ojibwa brothers as they play pranks and have amazing adventures using a traditional Ojibwa medicine that transforms them into animals for a short time.

New episodes of Rabbit and Bear Paws’ adventures can be found weekly at www.saymag.com. To read character biographies or to view missed installments, visit www.rabbitandbearpaws.com or vote for your favorite character at www.ayn.ca/AYNHome.aspx. Just scroll down the page to join the journey.

Rabbit and Bear Paws is printed monthly in the community papers of "Anishinabek News" and "Niiji (Friends) Circle".

The Rabbit and Bear Paws graphic novel will be on sale in March 2006, along with a new installment of the comic strip series based on the second of the Seven Grandfathers' teachings. The feedback has been positive about using humor and traditional stories given the state of our crazy modern world and Solomon is determined that his stories and images will be available to everyone. "Everyone who wants to read my stories should have the chance", says Solomon. "I love these characters"! "If my stories make a difference to just one person's self image and self-respect then all these hours of doodling will have been worthwhile!" he laughs.

"I've always remembered what Alwyn Morris, Olympic Mohawk Athlete used to say”, Quote, "If you have it in you to dream, you have it in you to succeed". That is my personal motto and part of the message behind Rabbit and Bear Paws."

For more information please contact chadsol@gmail.com