[2] Her science fiction and fantasy occasionally draws on her anthropological background, including her first novel, Bear Daughter (2005), nominated for the Crawford Award.

Although about fictional characters, Bear Daughter is inspired by Native American stories and the indigenous traditions of the north Pacific coast.

[2] In her acknowledgments, she thanks various cultures in their own language for their contribution: Gunalchéesh (Tlingit), Hàw’aa (Haida), T'ooyaksiy nisim (Nisga), T'ooyaxsiy nisim, N t'oyaxsasm, Analhzaqwnugwutla, Giáxsia, Gianakasi, Stutwinii (Nuxalk Nation), Gelakas’la (Gwa'sala people), and Tl'eekoo (Huu-ay-aht First Nations).

Berman is trained as a linguistic anthropologist who published articles about Native American myth and translations, in particular those of the Pacific Northwest.

[3] She was adjuncts in the University of Victoria School of Environmental Studies anthropology department (2013–2016), with research interests in Northwest Coast oral literature and ethnohistory and is a Franz Boas scholar.