John Jones,an Okanagan Shuswap native was born in 1959 in Enderby, British Columbia, where he still lives today and was formally educated in public school system. Initially, raised by his grandmother on the Spallumcheen Indian Band, he learned trational practices of the Shuswap people. His grandmother taught him that "Bears are loke your brothers. They are your protectors and spiritual guardians". Jones carefully sough out First Nations mentors that offered cultural knowledge and wisdom. Traditional teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the four diretions, the four colours (white, red, yellow and black) the Mineral People, the Plant People, the Animal People, the People People, and the Spirit Peoples, are all incorporated into his daily life.
