Through vibrant illustrations and a captivating narrative, "Awakening the Spirit Bear" tells the myth of how the spirit bear was brought to life by Raven in one small corner of the world over 2000 years ago and how this rare white bear (that is a black bear with white fur) actually exists today. In the heart of an island rainforest in the far north, Chief Running Water faces a relentless snowy winter threatening the survival of his Black Bear tribe. To save his people from hunger he makes a pact with Raven, the creation god, that would allow his tribe to prosper. But as the snow continues to fall, the tribe thinks Raven has tricked them into believing his promise of turning one in every 10 bears into a white spirit bear to chase away winter in return for the tribe's promise to keep the bears from harm. It is only when the daughter of Chief Running Water embarks on a selfless journey does the prophecy of Raven unfold. It is then the Black Bear tribe learns their own promise is not as simple as it seemed: for the only way to save the spirit bear from harm is to protect its habitat and food source. Using the spirit bear as an ambassador for the delicate harmony between humanity and the environment, this tale resonates beyond the island rainforest, inspiring environmental conservation worldwide. For the spirit bear is indeed a special rare bear-not a polar bear, but a sub-species of black bear that has a coat of pure white.

One of the rarest animals on the planet today, the elusive spirit bear still roams free in one small corner of the world in the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada. Just as Raven prophesied, scientific researchers have proven that for every nine black bears born, a tenth cub is born with a coat of pure white. This is the spirit bear. And it carries winter on its back all year for its entire life as a reminder to humans of their promise to live in harmony with nature.