The Bears and I 1974

Arrival in the remote homeland

Robert (Bob) Leslie travels to the remote homeland of a fallen comrade to deliver his personal effects to his father, a First Nations chief and shaman. He is taken with the beauty of the west and decides to stay for a while to find himself.

Meeting the chief and settling in

Bob presents the personal effects to the chief and forms a bond with the community. The encounter deepens his sense of belonging, and he chooses to extend his stay to learn from the people and the land.

Discovery of the orphaned bear cubs

While exploring the forest, Bob discovers three orphaned bear cubs. He begins to raise them with the intent of teaching them to survive on their own.

Bond forming between Bob and the cubs

Bob nurtures the cubs and grows attached to them, balancing care with the goal of letting them go. His bond with the cubs makes the idea of releasing them increasingly difficult.

Conflict over releasing the bears

As the cubs approach independence, Bob wavers about releasing them back into the wild. He wrestles with his responsibility to the animals and his desire to stay connected to them.

Government plans threaten indigenous lands

The federal government plans to evict the indigenous population to clear land for facilities in the park. Bob attempts to speak on their behalf before the park board, but his ignorance of Native history fuels conflict and mistrust.

Rising tensions and resistance

Frustration grows among community members as the process moves forward, with some resisting the authorities' plans and others voicing threats. The divide widens and the situation becomes more volatile.

Attack on Bob's home and the bears

An enraged man attacks Bob's home and threatens the bears, signaling that the conflict has turned violent. The incident shatters the relative calm and heightens the danger for everyone involved.

Forest fire ignites

The violence triggers a forest fire that endangers the park's inhabitants, both human and animal. Emergency responses unfold as the fire sweeps through the trees.

Lessons from the elder

In the grip of the crisis, Bob comes to understand the wisdom of his friend's father about balance and the bears' precarious position. He recognizes the danger the bears face if left unchecked and the need to act to protect all lives involved.

Decision to push the bears away

Bob resolves that the bears must be pushed away from the human world to safeguard both people and wildlife. The difficult choice marks a turning point in his relationship with the cubs and the land.