Life, Death, Change

We are at the part of the novel where Cole is mauled by Spirit Bear.Before the attack, Cole got power by making others scared of him. He didn't trust anyone who wasn't scared of him and didn't want anyones help. Cole burned down his shelter because he thought it was one of his dad's "buy-outs". Cole wanted to kill the bear, or any other animal that crossed his path when he went to the island.After the attack, Cole suddenly realized that life was a big deal, and he was part of the circle of life. He knew that death was coming near, and in order to live, he needed help. He started seeing all of the natural beauty around him, thinking about how much beauty he had destroyed. He wanted to enjoy the beauty of the world, yet he lay there, dying. When he was rescued, he wanted to tell the truth.The attack was completely Cole's fault. He provoked the bear by spitting at it, attacking it and calling it out. The bear had done nothing wrong, and was only defending itself. The attack helped Cole wake up and see the wrong he has done. The attack is what started Cole's healing process because he changed mentally when he was thrown at death's doors.

So what did Cole do to be sent to an island off the coast of Alaska?

Well Cole had comited an act of violence toward another student in his school. So it all started when Cole robbed and trashed a hardware store and got away with it, for a while because Peter Driscal, a thin red haired boy, ratted on him. Cole was questioned by the police and he denied all of it, so he got away, and when he got back to school Cole hunted Peter down and warns him not to mess with him. After school Cole finds Peter and punches him till his face is a bloody mess then when Peter tried to run away and tripped Cole pounced on him and pounded his face into the sidewalk. Cole was set to a detention center while the court decided on how to sentence him when he learns about Circle Justice. Cole applied for it to shorten his sentence and is banished to an island off the Coast of Alaska all alone so he can think about what was done and heal, in this case learn to control his anger.

What is "Circle Justice"?

Here is a link to a web page containing some info on Circle Justice.
http://www.fnti.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=0&page_id=110

Circle Justice is a first nations way to heal not punish the criminal, victim, and community for a crime done. First everyone must agree to do this then the criminal, victim, and anyone else who wants to help go through many "circles" of meetings where everyone has the right to speak in turn. In the last "circle" meeting the people figure out a way to heal the criminal and victim and the duty the criminal must do in favor of who was hurt. For example if the criminal killed another persons cat then he might have to get a new cat and take care of it for the victim and the slain cat. In the book "Touching Spirit Bear" Cole must live in seclusion off the coast of Alaska for a year to heal and gain control on his temper.