When the world was newly green, the Creator – Whe-get the Raven – decided to leave a reminder of when the land was covered with ice and snow. To do this, he went among the black bear people and turned every tenth one white, decreeing that Moksgm’ol would live in peace and harmony forever
They say there was a man who could casually lookout over a vast expanse and spot a grizzly ten miles away with his naked eye. The legend is true, but doesn’t begin to tell the full story of the true gentleman, the man they called Luke.
During Simon’s successful two decade-long, Spirit Bear Youth Coalition-led campaign to help save the bear, he was able to work with government and independent scientists to help identify the history of the Kermode gene. One of the interesting facts discovered through this research was that a white fur gene once existed throughout North America thousands of years ago, but gradually disappeared as snow and ice became less prevalent across the continent.
Last week, my beloved family dog, Timber, left our world at the age of 15. He lived a good and long life, but for those whose lives he touched, we’d give anything for one more year, one more day.
Simon is one of the book’s contributing authors and we hope the vivid images and passionate storytelling helps motivate world leaders to take urgent action on behalf of the forests that nurture every facet of life.
Wildlife photography – and observation research – is a learned skill, improved by information, experience and mentorship. We can all be better at what we do and all of us should constantly demand better of ourselves. That, after all, is being human. As is admitting imperfection – and we’re most certainly imperfect.
Many national parks are trying to re-wild their front and back country and put a heightened focus on animal conservation. This is admirable. But roadways and trails (and, frustratingly, towns and golf courses and ski resorts in Canada’s parks) are here to stay. As a result, this imperfect version of protected wilderness needs to strike a fine balance between animal needs and the bigger picture of helping people foster a love for nature and conservation.
After months of unseasonable sun and heat, summer has finally faded to fall in Canada’s Rocky Mountains, with higher elevations already receiving their first blanket of snow. And what a relief it is. Fires burning across neighbouring British Columbia and into Alberta have made smoke omnipresent and threatened animals and people alike.
In landing in Qikiqtarjuaq and boarding the iconic Canada C3 vessel, the excitement of being in this remarkable landscape never quite took hold, as I knew that if we were to truly honour our role on board the ship, our time at sea would be incredibly challenging. Though I may have been a naïve 13-year-old when I dove into the deep end of the campaign to save the spirit bear, I’ve long since lost my innocence as to how seemingly concurrent challenges often counter act one another, surfacing hard truths and offering nothing more than bumpy roads as solace.
This year is Canada’s 150th birthday and it doesn’t come without controversy. To celebrate the incredible nation in which we live, while acknowledging that we’re far from perfect and have a long road ahead if we are to achieve meaningful reconciliation with our indigenous communities, Simon will be part of a unique endeavour.
Gift Certificate
$100.00 – $500.00
Reflective Clouds | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
The Hunt | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
In the Forest | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
Northern Alberta Sunset | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
Overcast | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
Strike a Pose | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
Milky Way | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
Marten in the Snow | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
Lynx in Snow | Fine Art Print
$75.00 – $500.00
