Page 28 - Breath of the Bear

Brother to a People
Brother to a People

photos by Eva-Ann Hill

Hartley Bay for the Gitga’at people. Hugely symbolic and Through education, the Gitga’at hope that
Interview with Gitga’at tribal member highly revered, it was tradition to not speak these bears will touch the hearts of others and
Cam Hill of the bear out loud, and today only the encourage people to stand with the Gitga’at
Hereditary Chief of the Killer Whale Clan is able as they preserve this extraordinary land for
To the Gitga’at people in British Columbia, to use the Spirit Bear symbol in artwork. “The generations to come.
the Spirit Bear of the Great Bear Rainforest is Spirit Bear is reserved and will only reveal itself
more than an ordinary animal that rambles to a few people,” says Cam Hill. The elusiveness Additional Information
through the dense, mist-laden forest. To the of this bear is a photographer’s dream as the Touring the Great Bear Rainforest must
Gitga’at, the bears are their equal - they are vibrant greens of the forest make for a stunning only be done through a tour company as it is
brothers. “As a people we don’t make a move backdrop against the bear’s creamy coat. illegal to be on protected tribal land without
in our territory without consulting the impact it a guide. There are several tour operators who
would have on our neighbors, and neighbors Unfortunately, hunting is allowed in the will guide patrons to the Great Bear Rainforest,
aren’t just the people around us, they are the Great Bear Rainforest and while it is illegal to which is sometimes called “The Amazon of the
bears that roam the forest, the fish and whales kill a Spirit Bear, the hunting of black bears is North”. Many of these operators are Gitga’at
that reside in the ocean and the birds that soar authorized by BC’s Ministry of Forests, Lands tribal members, which is especially meaningful
with the wind.” says Gitga’at spokesman Cam and Natural Resource Operations. Tragically, given their knowledge of the bears and that
Hill. “We are not driven by a dollar value. We more than two dozen black bears from the they are keepers and guardians of the land.
want the Spirit Bears around for the young Great Bear Rainforest are killed every year by Marven Robinson, of Gitga’at Spirit Bears out of
people of the Gitga’at and we will do whatever hunters with a permit, and any one or more Hartley Bay, is considered the premier guide for
it takes to protect them.” of those bears could be one that carries the the Great Bear Rainforest. His company caters
recessive gene, making the Spirit Bear all that to photographers and conducts all day guided
Scientifically, we know that a recessive more rare. Spirit Bear tours from September through
gene in two American black bear parents will October. In August his company focuses on
produce an offspring that has a creamy milk- Today, there is a push by the Gitga’at to wolves from the Great Bear Rainforest.
colored coat. This unique characteristic shows educate others about the importance of
itself in one out of 24 bears, and is found only protecting not only the Spirit Bear, but the Besides bears, other animals such as coastal
in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. largest coastal temperate rainforest where grey wolves, cougars, mountain goats, orcas
However, the cultural significance of this bear the bear makes its home. Knowledge starts and salmon make up the abundance of wildlife
goes far deeper than anything science can in your own community and is the key to in the area. The Spirit Bears can be found in
prove. The Gitga’at believe the Sprit Bear was preserving the creation that surrounds us. various numbers on the islands off the north-
put here to remind them of the time when ice Cam Hill encourages everyone to be proactive central coast in British Columbia with the
covered the land and harvesting and hunting and know what is going on in your neck of the largest concentration being on Princess Royal
was difficult. By remembering the past, one will woods. “You wouldn’t go to your neighbor’s Island and Gribell Island. The best time to view
have gratitude and thankfulness for the lush home and throw garbage on their front lawn, the bears is in the early to mid-fall when the
and bountiful forests that sustain and provide so don’t do that with our oceans and forests.” salmon runs are in full swing.
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