Spirit Bears – Brother to a People

Hartley Bay

Interview with Gitga’at tribal member: Cam Hill

To the Gitga’at people in British Columbia, the Spirit Bear of the Great Bear Rainforest is more than an ordinary animal that rambles through the dense, mist-laden forest. To the Gitga’at, the bears are their equal - they are brothers. “As a people we don’t make a move in our territory without consulting the impact it would have on our neighbors, and neighbors aren’t just the people around us, they are the bears that roam the forest, the fish and whales that reside in the ocean and the birds that soar with the wind.” says Gitga’at spokesman Cam Hill. “We are not driven by a dollar value. We want the Spirit Bears around for the young people of the Gitga’at and we will do whatever it takes to protect them.”

Scientifically, we know that a recessive gene in two American black bear parents will produce an offspring that has a creamy milk-colored coat. This unique characteristic shows itself in one out of 24 bears, and is found only in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. However, the cultural significance of this bear goes far deeper than anything science can prove. The Gitga’at believe the Sprit Bear was put here to remind them of the time when ice covered the land and harvesting and hunting was difficult. By remembering the past, one will have gratitude and thankfulness for the lush and bountiful forests that sustain and provide for the Gitga’at people. Hugely symbolic and highly revered, it was tradition to not speak of the bear out loud, and today only the Hereditary Chief of the Killer Whale Clan is able to use the Spirit Bear symbol in artwork.

“The Spirit Bear is reserved and will only reveal itself to a few people,” says Cam Hill. The elusiveness of this bear is a photographer’s dream as the vibrant greens of the forest make for a stunning backdrop against the bear’s creamy coat.

Photos by Eva-Ann Hill

Unfortunately, hunting is allowed in the Great Bear Rainforest and while it is illegal to kill a Spirit Bear, the hunting of black bears is authorized by BC’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Tragically, more than two dozen black bears from the Great Bear Rainforest are killed every year by hunters with a permit, and any one or more of those bears could be one that carries the recessive gene, making the Spirit Bear all that more rare.

Today, there is a push by the Gitga’at to educate others about the importance of protecting not only the Spirit Bear, but the largest coastal temperate rainforest where the bear makes its home. Knowledge starts in your own community and is the key to preserving the creation that surrounds us. Cam Hill encourages everyone to be proactive and know what is going on in your neck of the woods. “You wouldn’t go to your neighbor’s home and throw garbage on their front lawn, so don’t do that with our oceans and forests.”

Through education, the Gitga’at hope that these bears will touch the hearts of others and encourage people to stand with the Gitga’at as they preserve this extraordinary land for generations to come.

Photo by Eva-Ann Hill

Photo by Eva-Ann Hill

Additional Information

Touring the Great Bear Rainforest must only be done through a tour company as it is illegal to be on protected tribal land without a guide. There are several tour operators who will guide patrons to the Great Bear Rainforest, which is sometimes called “The Amazon of the North”. Many of these operators are Gitga’at tribal members, which is especially meaningful given their knowledge of the bears and that they are keepers and guardians of the land. Marven Robinson, of Gitga’at Spirit Bears out of Hartley Bay, is considered the premier guide for the Great Bear Rainforest. His company caters to photographers and conducts all day guided Spirit Bear tours from September through October. In August his company focuses on wolves from the Great Bear Rainforest.

Besides bears, other animals such as coastal grey wolves, cougars, mountain goats, orcas and salmon make up the abundance of wildlife in the area. The Spirit Bears can be found in various numbers on the islands off the north-central coast in British Columbia with the largest concentration being on Princess Royal Island and Gribell Island. The best time to view the bears is in the early to mid-fall when the salmon runs are in full swing.