Legend of the Spirit bear

Legend of Spirit bear

Legend of Spirit bear - Spirit Bear with Raven

This legend starts ten thousand years ago when the world was covered by frozen glaciers. The glaciers were covered in ice and snow. No one knows how long it had been like that, but the first story recorded was of Raven, The Creator.

The stories remembered and told today, all began at that time.

Raven or Ravin, North American or European, we all have roots with ravens as powerful iconic figures in our cultural and personal mythologies. Ravens are still kept, caged in the Tower of London, to ensure the throne’s future.

In this Kitasoo First Nations story of Raven, long after he had descended from the heavens and created The Green. Then along came the humorous Fire theft story. No one’s trusted Raven since. Then Man started popping out of seed pods along with the first woman. Raven had created it all. And yet…

Raven was not satisfied. Raven wanted something to remind him of the Long White Time of before. So he chose Bear, the keeper of dreams and memory to help him out. Raven sought Black Bear out. He didn’t have to go far, as he is always seen as a constellation of the stars in the night sky.

Raven made a pact with Black Bear. Black Bear agreed after he was given huge assurances from Raven, that he could live in peace and safety for all time, by letting one out of every ten Black Bears turn white. This was for a reminder for Raven of the misery of the great ice age of before. The White Bears to this day are still called Moksgm’ol, by the Kitasoo and T’simshian people.

Now, in the Great Bear Rain Forest of the Pacific Northwest, Kermodes still roam. Only now, their population is down to about four hundred. We would like to acknowledge the many efforts by private, provincial and federal government organizations that have stepped in to ensure the continuing habitat of the Great Bear Rain Forest in the Pacific North West, home to the Sacred White Spirit Bear.