Black Bear, Spirit Bear

The Ravens herald their coming.

Shiny black messengers alight upon the branch assessing the scene.

The symbol of many tribal crests, the creator, and trickster known to some.

Rocks and logs dapple the river bed cloaked in rich green moss as dragon flys skim the surface

Salmon skins and innards splay themselves in sacrifice, evidence of predatory leftovers.

Patience dances with hope until the gentleness of a black bear lobs its way up river. Its commanding presence walking deftly over the landscape.

The solidity of its pitch black fur body, the natural balance of its four thick legs and sturdy clawed paws, the playfulness in which it nose dives into the river to catch the salmon again and again.

First bemused at nothing, then with another pounce the wiggling salmon is clenched in surety before finding a rock to dissect it on.

Using its razor sharp teeth it pulls its head off, instinctively knowing that it alone brings the most nutrition beyond the body that carries parasites.

Finally, my dream has been realised. My bucket list complete. A bear in the wild. Protected to live freely, not caged, not on someone’s trophy wall as an ego failing, nor dancing for some damned Russian circus.

Tears of gratitude fill my eyes. Momentarily I am unable to see.

Then from down stream, moving over a large boulder akin to the sun rising on a new day, comes the elusive and sacred spirit bear. The guardian of the Rainforest and symbol of harmony peace and interconnectedness with all life. Only three have even been seen on this large expanse of an island named Gribble. Indigenous to the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia and nowhere else in the world.

Before my eyes I am witness to the beauty of this bear, its white golden tinged fur, tumbling through the waters like a playful cat pouncing on a mouse, again and again, until it claims its catch and the fertile bright red eggs purge themselves from its jaws, consumed with relish upon another rock of carnage.

To see both the black bear and the spirit bear in the same river at the same time, heralds a change in my psyche. Everything I see looks more beautiful and has more depth than ever before.

It is said that the bear is the head of ecosystem. When the bear is well fed and happy the rest of the ecosystem can thrive. Today is indeed evidence of that.

May the salmon keep running and the rains to come bring even more abundance.

The caretaker of Gribble Island is a beautiful friendly soul from the Raven Bear tribe who is here to hand down the medicine ways to future generations, his accompanying nephews are more than willing to share in this natural keepsake.

Mother Earth is the floor of the earth and the bears are the stable earthed paws upon it.

I have truly landed here in this place, watching them move up and down the river bed not even caring that we are here so close, watching in silent awe.

This experience so close up for hours has changed me. Brought be back from a deep sense of loss. A part of my essence will forever reside at this river bank in deep, deep gratitude.

We are all mediators and caretakers of this exceptionally beautiful planet.

The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of her.

(c)Odette Nightsky 2025.

Photos kindly offered by (c) Wade Carpenter

The Great Bear Rainforest. British Colombia. Canada.