Cole is the protagonist of Ghost of Spirit Bear. He is a teenage boy who recently returned from being banished to an Alaskan island after he attacked and injured Peter. At the time, Cole was mixed up in crime and bullying and living in a chaotic, violent home. Living on the island for a year taught Cole independence, as well as empathy, purpose, and the importance of Honoring Ancestors by Honoring the Self. Now that Cole is back in Minnesota, he has to learn that Transforming One’s Inner and Outer Reality is extremely difficult and not something he can do alone.

Returning to school, Cole is filled with fear that he will lash out and unleash dormant anger. He knows that he used to be a former bully, and worries that if he or Peter is bullied now, he will not be able to contain himself. Cole feels out of place in the city at first and wishes he were back in nature. There, he felt at peace; here, he feels attacked and frustrated. He also carries the burden of shame for what he did to Peter, and makes up for it by being overly protective and defensive of his new best friend.