Ma’ah was a spirit bear, a black bear born with white fur, known and loved by the Gitga’at people and other First Nations of the Great Bear Rainforest. When Paul Nicklen first met her during a National Geographic assignment years ago, he immediately understood why she carried such deep significance. She was calm, gentle, and already a wise old matriarch of the forest.

During the years when First Nations and local advocates worked to stop the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, Ma’ah became a clear symbol of what stood to be lost. Her image on the cover of National Geographic showed people far beyond this coast that these forests, salmon rivers, and cultural homelands were living worlds with names, histories, and guardians. Places that deserve protection.

Today, we honor Ma’ah by keeping that commitment alive. Although she has passed, her legacy reminds us to protect her forest, support the communities who have cared for it for millennia, and safeguard the future of her rare lineage.

Video by Paul Nicklen