Touching Spirit Bear

Garvey is a Tlingit man and Cole’s probation officer. He is a round character and a key influence in Cole’s rehabilitation. Garvey is bulldog-like with “lazy eyes,” but he has a sense of humor and is a very understanding and patient man. Garvey chose to become a police officer because, like Cole, he carries guilt from his past that he is attempting to heal; he spent five years in prison as a teenager. Garvey recognizes himself in Cole, so despite Cole’s initial lies and unwillingness to change or take responsibility, Garvey continues to give him chances. It is Garvey who has the idea of bringing Cole to the Healing Circle in the hopes of finding an alternative to sending him to jail. When Cole is suspicious of taking part in a Tlingit tradition, Garvey explains, “You don’t have to be Native American or First Nation. Anyone can love, forgive, and heal” (12). It is also Garvey who convinces the Healing Circle to give Cole a second chance on the island.

Garvey and Edwin are alike in many ways, but Garvey seems to have more patience and is more openly compassionate. When the men find Cole nearly dead, it is Garvey who talks to him as he lies dying on the stretcher. Garvey seems to be by Cole’s side as often as he can, supporting him each step of the way. He also admits that “helping others is how [he] help[s] myself” (81), modelling honesty for Cole. When Garvey expresses doubt in Cole, it is usually to test his sincerity.

Garvey imparts several important lessons to Cole during their time together. He teaches Cole patience, kindness, and friendship. Garvey also teaches Cole about making the most of life by turning ordinary meals into feasts and celebrations. It is Garvey who gives Cole the sacred at.óow (Tlingit blanket) covered in totems, explaining, “This blanket has been handed down for many generations in my family. […] You can’t own at.óow. You are only its caretaker for a time. If you accept this at.óow from me, you must promise to care for it and someday pass it on to someone else you trust” (19). Cole does not take this seriously at first, but as he lies dying in the forest, he remembers the at.óow. It is not physically with him, but its memory keeps him warm through the night. When he wakes, he finds the at.óow. Realizing it is something special, he begins using it for celebrations and eventually passes it on to Peter.

Edwin is a round character who acts as a source of wisdom and guidance for Cole as he heals on the island. Edwin is a “Tlingit elder from Drake” (16), Alaska, and spends most of his time fishing. He is a friend of Garvey’s and, like both Garvey and Cole, has a violent past that has led him to want to help others; he was at one point banished to the very island Cole is now on, having done something that he could not take back.

Edwin remains a cryptic and elusive person until the end of the novel, but he does slowly open himself up to Cole; like Cole, Edwin has difficulty trusting people. He is often described as staring at Cole without speaking, eyeing him suspiciously, or questioning Cole’s true motives. Nevertheless, he puts his neck out for Cole, building him a cabin on the island and trusting that Cole wants to change. Cole’s initial betrayal of this trust hurts him deeply, but the second time Cole comes to the island, Edwin tries to prepare him better. He has Cole build his own shelter and gives him spiritual tools to guide Cole along his journey of healing. One such gift is the principle of choosing between anger and happiness. According to Edwin, anger remains with a person forever, but they can choose to focus on happiness instead.

Edwin also shows Cole the freezing pond in which he used to soak and reflect. Cole finds it dreadful at first but soon realizes the benefits of sitting in the icy water and letting his emotions drift away. Finally, Edwin, takes Cole to a hill with a large stone at the bottom. He explains that it is the very same stone he used during his time on the island. Edwin tells Cole to take the stone up the hill, imagining he is carrying his ancestors and his entire past with him. When he gets to the stop, Cole is to imagine the stone as his anger and roll it back down. The advice that Edwin gives Cole allows Cole to process the damage he has done to himself and others, as well as to feel grateful to be alive and the product of his ancestors.

Peter Driscal is Cole’s foil and the victim of an attack by Cole that left him with brain damage, impaired speech, and impaired movement. When Cole is first sent to the island, he blames Peter for his being there because Cole “provoked” Cole’s violence by turning Cole in for robbery. He has no regrets and feels that Peter got exactly what he deserved. Meanwhile, Peter confesses at the Healing Circle that he wants Cole to suffer the way he himself has.

After Cole nearly dies, his feelings toward Peter begin to change. Cole realizes that it was his own actions that led him to be banished to the island, and he wants to do what he can to make things right. He regularly worries about Peter, hoping he is okay. Although Cole has partially healed, his spirit cannot fully heal until he helps Peter. Thus, when Cole hears that Peter has tried to die by suicide twice, he suggests bringing Peter to the island.

Peter’s arrival presents one final and important challenge for Cole. He tests Cole every day, attempting to make him angry enough that he will attack Peter again. Peter is also still afraid of Cole and stays away from him for the most part. Garvey tells Cole to be patient with Peter, and Cole takes Garvey’s advice, letting Peter reach out to him instead. Slowly, Peter begins talking to Cole, inviting him into the cabin, and eating his food. Despite these changes, Peter continues refusing Cole’s openness and friendship and eventually lashes out violently at him. Cole does not fight back, and Peter gives up and breaks down, crying as Cole hugs him. In that moment, the Spirit Bear appears to both Cole and Peter, suggesting that they have not only forgiven each other but also themselves. Cole and Peter carve a perfect circle at the bottom of Cole’s totem pole, symbolizing the connectedness that he has learned in his time on the island and with Peter. When Cole is able to resolve this conflict with Peter and help him heal, he also solidifies his own journey toward healing.

Cole’s father is an antagonist for Cole and the primary source of the abuse that Cole has experienced throughout his life. Cole’s father has an alcohol addiction and is an extremely angry person. He takes his anger out on his son for doing minor things like coming home late. Cole’s father eventually divorces Cole’s mother and is charged with child abuse, though he attempts to have the charges dropped. He later files for custody of Cole, but the fate of this request is unclear.

When the story begins, Cole is very much like his father. He is angry, violent, and blames the world for his problems. On the island for the first time, Cole remembers how his father abused him and lied about it at the Healing Circle. Wanting some sort of revenge, Cole burns down the shelter, seeing his father alongside all his other bullies in the blaze. Cole’s father only appears in Cole’s memories and imagination, illustrating how the damage he has caused continues to permeate his son’s everyday existence. However, Cole eventually learns that his father also experienced childhood abuse; realizing that when he gets angry, he is really just afraid, he concludes that the same is true of his father. This new understanding allows Cole to forgive his father’s abuse and realize that even his father is not to blame for Cole’s own actions. Cole’s changed perception of his father is paramount to Cole’s overall transformation. He would not have been able to let go and begin helping Peter if he did not forgive his father: “I know now he never meant to hurt me. He was beaten by his father, and that’s all he knew […] I learned to forgive. Not just others, but also myself” (155).