The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: Home of the Legendary Spirit Bear
For British Columbia's First Nations, Princess Royal Island, home to the rare Kermode or "Spirit" bear, is a sacred place. Here, a genetically-unique subspecies of black bear roams the landscape; the creature, steeped in mythology, proves a precious sight, thanks to its rich, white-coloured coat. Legend has it that long ago, the area where the Spirit bear lives was covered in ice and snow. Raven saw this and decided to make the land lush and green for the people – but as a reminder of the misery they had once lived in, he made every tenth bear as white as ice.
This captivating tale continues to be passed down through the generations, one that is steadily reinforced, thanks to the marvel of the surrounding area known as the Great Bear Rainforest (cloud cover, mist and proximity to the ocean keeps this region mild and wet year-round). Noted as the world's largest remaining intact temperate rainforest, this destination is a protected paradise; in 2006, an agreement between the provincial government and a coalition of conservationists, First Nations, hunters and loggers established guidelines to protect this precious resource.
And for those eager to catch a glimpse of the Spirit bear, one Cariboo Chilcotin Coast eco-tourism operator aims to make mythology a reality. Offering four to seven-day excursions from early August to late September, Spirit Bear Adventures provides outings which blend cultural and natural history with opportunities to view the Spirit and grizzly bears which inhabit the traditional territory of the Kitasoo/Xaixias First Nation. A sight sure to take your breath away.
March 13, 2009
Posted in: Canada