One of BC's rarest creatures has been selected by VANOC to be an Olympic mascot for the Vancouver 2010 Games. Inspired by local mythology of the Pacific Northwest First Nations, Miga is a "sea bear" - part killer whale and part Spirit Bear. Legend has it that orca whales would transform on land into the rare Kermode or Spirit Bear.
The First Nations believe that the Spirit Bear was turned white by the Raven to remind us of the Ice Age. They also believe that orcas are travellers and guardians of the sea.
Miga, apparently lives in the ocean near Tofino and spends the summers surfing at Long Beach and in the winters has taken up snowboarding. I'm not sure where, perhaps at Mount Washington on the Island? Like most Spirit Bears her favourite food is salmon.
Great choice by VANOC of Miga and the other two mascots, Sumi (a thunderbird, orca and black bear) and Quatchi (a Sasquatch), who aren't just cute toys but may also be seen as "protectors of nature" here in BC.
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