Mini Report, Chapters 1 & 2

I decided to research the Spirit Bear because it seemed like that would be the huge factor that is going to change Cole's life. The book is called Touching Spirit Bear also so I wanted to know more about the Spirit Bear and if they really exist. I found out that Spirit Bears really do exist and they are actually called Kermode Bears and are a type of Black Bear with a recessive gene that makes their fur white. Kermode Bears are found in Princess Royal Island and the central coast of British Columbia. The island the Kermode Bears are found on is a place where the logging industry is looking at to clear trees. It is said that because of it's habitat being put into danger the film industry is looking at the bears for a film. If these bears are in danger they shouldn't be put into movies like "Ghost Bear" and being looked at for more films. They should be put on an endangered list and being moved to safer environments where they can live freely and peacefully. The Kermode bear or "Spirit bear" is also known as the Moksgm'ol to Native Americans. The Tsimshiam people have a story of the Spirit bears origin that is told like this:

"Long ago, the world was covered in ice and snow. One day, the raven, the creator of the world, came down from heaven and turned the world green. But as a reminder of the time when all was white, the raven went among the bears and turned every tenth one the color of snow. The raven decreed that the white bear would live forever in peace."

In the story Garvey states that the spirit bear has "pride, dignity, and honor." To the Indians this is what the spirit bear resembled. Native American symbols have deep meanings that they strongly believe and live by. Like said in the book the spirit bear symbolizes pride, dignity and honor. I believe this is why the author choose this particular type of bear to put in this book, because bear symbolizes three of the most important things Cole needs to learn.





Resources:

www.wikipedia.com
www.thefreelibrary.com