Story of a life-changing experience for a biologist studying the wolves in Canada's inhospitable North. A green young biologist named Tyler (Smith), is sent by the Canadian government to "prove" that the wolves are depleting the caribou herds, but what he finds is a natural world in perfect harmony where he becomes a tolerated outsider. Dumped unprepared in the wilds by a hard drinking bush pilot (Dennehy), Tyler learns survival skills from the aged Eskimo (Ittimangnaq) who saves his life. He learns the rules of coexistence from a neighboring wolf (which results in a literal pissing contest as man and beast mark their respective territories). Tyler's journey culminates in a majestic run with the wolf pack, an exhilarating sequence where, for an instant, he becomes one with the wild natural environment.