The Bears and I

The Bears and I is a 1974 American drama film directed by Bernard McEveety and written by John Whedon. The film stars Patrick Wayne, Chief Dan George, Andrew Duggan, Michael Ansara and Robert Pine. The film was released on July 31, 1974, by Buena Vista Distribution.
Plot.
Robert (Bob) Leslie, a Vietnam veteran goes to the remote homeland of a fallen commerade to deliver his artifacts to his father, a revered Chief and Shaman.
He is very taken with the beauty of the west and decides to stay a while to find himself.
Bob finds 3 orphaned cubs and takes to raising them, with the intent of teaching them to be independent. While he grows evermore attached to them.
The First peoples face eviction by the government who want to build facilities in the area of the national park the First peoples reside. Bob, completely naive to the long history of wrongs committed against first Nations, tries several times to speak to them on behalf of the national park board. His ignorance of First people's history with the US Government agencies leads to conflict between him and his friend's people. Some of the First nations resist with threats of violence, which escalates the situation; while others protest with understandable frustration. One man turns his anger towards Bob and attacks his home and the bears, leading to a forest fire that endangers the park for all humans and wildlife.
As he comes to understand the wisdom of his friend's father and the danger the bears face, Bob realizes he must push the bears away. A promise he appeared to break earlier due to the bear's attachment to him, and the food he continues to provide, despite their freedom.