Bear is Found and Coming Home!

Bear Henry is Coast Salish two-spirit from Penelakut. They are an outreach worker on Lekwungen and WSANEC territories (Victoria, BC). They are an artist, an author, a care-taker. A lover of all things with them in this world.

Bear went missing on November 27th, 2021 and their family and friends spent months searching for them. We set up this fundraiser to help pay for search and rescue efforts, but despite our efforts were never able to find any sign of them. 

Then, on February 09th, 2022 they found their way out of the wilderness where they had been stuck on a mountain on Cayaceuse main in the snow for most of the winter, starving and alone. 



Bear before on the left, yesterday on the right.

All of the funds raised before February 10th have been put towards the search and rescue effort, which included helicopter, boat, and ground searches. Now that they’ve returned we’re pivoting to support them in their recovery. They have lasting physical and psychological trauma from spending so long stranded on the mountain. In order to survive they were forced to abandon their van, their home containing all of their belongings, out on the mountain. 

With any money raised we hope to be able to: 

- Cover any medication and health expenses related to their recovery;
- Rent a safe and stable place to recover;
- Replace essentials for daily living like food, clothes, shoes, linen, cooking tools, toiletries;
- Cover any expenses involved in towing their van from the area it’s stuck in, and fees for it to be scrapped;
- Help get them on the road again in order to find paid work once they are well – including renewing their driver’s license and hopefully getting a used vehicle to replace the now unuseable van;
- and contribute towards any other expenses related to Bear’s direct recovery.

We are so grateful for the huge outpouring of attention and support received while they were missing, Bear clearly has many people that love and care for them. Now that they are back and in need of aid we are really hoping that people are willing and able to continue to support them while they heal. 

For more information on what happened and the direction going forward, please see February 10th’s campaign Update. 




For the original campaign story, please see below:

“ This fundraiser is to help fund the Search and Rescue efforts to find our missing loved one Bear Henry.

 

Bear is Coast Salish two-spirit from Penelakut. They are an outreach worker on Lekwungen and WSANEC territories (Victoria, BC). They are an artist, an author, a care-taker. A lover of all things with them in this world.

For more about Bear and their dedication to local community, please see this article from Nina Grossman .

 

We last heard from Bear in Lake Cowichan on November 27th, 2021; they were headed up to Port Renfrew and had stopped behind a local Lordco overnight. In the last message we received they said someone had been knocking on their van and they were afraid they were being stalked.

 

Bear is always very connected with their friends and family. To go more than a week without anyone hearing from them is unprecedented and we are very concerned for their wellbeing. Friends and family of Bear’s have been working all hours to coordinate search and rescue efforts to bring them home.

 

This fundraiser is to support the search and rescue efforts coordinated by Bear’s friends and family. Since December 15th those with vehicles and experience equipped to handle winter conditions have been out searching the area and route Bear planned to take. We are hoping to hire a SAR helicopter, drones, and more ground SAR teams.

 

The funds from this fundraiser will go towards hiring SAR teams and vehicles, paying for gas and supplies, and other expenses related to the search and rescue effort. Any excess funds will be donated to outreach in the communities Bear devotes their life to.

 

Please help us find Bear Henry! Donate if you’re able, and share widely. We love them so much and are trying to remain hopeful they’ll be found safe.

 

If you have any information related to their disappearance please reach out!

Email us at [email redacted] or contact the Victoria Police Department (VicPD) Report Desk at (250) [phone redacted] extension 1. You can also report anonymously by calling Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

 

Below is the official news release from the Victoria Police Department (VicPD):

 

”File: 21-49375

 

Have You Seen Missing Person Kevin ‘Bear’ Henry?

 

Victoria, BC – Officers are asking for your assistance as we work to locate missing person Kevin “Bear” Henry.

 

Kevin is described as a 37-year-old Indigenous person standing six feet, three inches tall and weighing approximately 300 pounds, with a heavy build. They have short brown hair and green eyes. Kevin is known to wear skirts and leggings.

 

Kevin is believed to be driving a brown 1980 Dodge Royal camper van with British Columbia license plate NB206H.

 

Kevin last spoke with family on November 27th. They were reported as a missing person to VicPD on December 11th. Investigators believe that Kevin may have travelled to the Fairy Creek area. Officers are working to locate Kevin to ensure that they are safe.

 

If you have any information about where Kevin “Bear” Henry may be, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) [phone redacted], extension 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

 

https://vicpd.ca/2021/12/15/have-you-seen-missing-person-kevin-bear-henry/ ” ”