Thanks a lot for all these great suggestions! Especially for all the aspect ideas, Shaft.
I am more or less settled on choosing Bear instead of Coyote. Also, I am sticking with the Emissary of Power Template, and chose "Last Emissary of the Bear" as my High Concept: With the recent disturbances of power, Bear decided one last time to grant his dwindling power to somebody from the tribe.
Also Beast Change is great, it allows me to skill both shapes separately, so I am most likely going to go with that.