Bearclaw Stormcrow

Bearclaw was born on Dorvan V 18 years before the planet was conceded by the Federation to the Cardassians. He felt their hand of oppression, and fought in a mini-resistance that led to open revolt. In this revolt, his mother Ravenhair was killed, leaving him and his father Lonewolf to mourn and carry on under the oppressive hand of the occupying force. All the injustice he saw made him long for something better. He saw the way his father stood before his oppressors and would not bow or break. Before Lonewolf's execution for sedition, he told his son never to bow but fight for freedom. When the Dominion War came about, Bearclaw joined an underground militia group and was eventually forced to flee Cardassian territory as the Cardassians allied themselves with the Founders. After the war, he found himself wandering and alone, with no direction, and he went on a vision quest, according to the beliefs of his people.

Although he did not see great visions (which disappointed him a little), nor did the Great Spirit or the spirits of his ancestors speak to him (he wasn't surprised at that), he did begin to think clearly about his personal goals and values. He saw how precious freedom was by contrast. Under Cardassian rule, there had been no political freedom. He began to realize that freedom was not a political thing, but more of a state of mind and a value system. He concluded that only Starfleet defended true freedom, and enrolled in the Academy.