Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones addressing Fairy Creek defenders
Forests, Indigenous Nations, Justice

Fairy Creek celebration at the Provincial Legislature

CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Fairy Creek blockades began on August 9th a year ago, and the forest defenders are holding a celebration at the Provincial Legislature today.

RCMP raid Fairy Creek while many Forest Defenders are in Victoria – Photo courtesy Fairy Creek Facebook page

According to spokesperson Saul Arbess, “We have some very dramatic things happening. The paramount Chief of the The Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, Dave Mungo Knox, is conducting, in the presence of many other Hereditary Chiefs and Matriarchs, a copper breaking ceremony to shame the provincial government. We have of course, invited Premier John Horgan to witness. He is not likely to attend, but the courtesy has definitely been extended to him. This has happened once before at the legislature.”

Other well known personalities speakinging are:

  • Marlene Hale (Wet’suwe’ten)
  • Tla’amin urban Indigenous activist Grandma Losah Rose Henry
  •  Union of BC Indian Chief’s Vice President Chief Don Tom (Tsartlip)
  •  Forest ecologist, UBC Professor and author, Dr. Suzanne Simard is a featured speaker
  • Green MP Elizabeth May will introduce Indigenous youth land defenders and frontline forest protectors

Arbess noted that:

The Fairy Creek celebration begins at 2 PM, with a walk from the Provincial courthouse to the Legislature.

“This is symbolic because the government is using the injunctions, which do not allow people to defend themselves … In an injunction hearing you can say whatever you want to defend your actions, but the only question that is ever asked is were you aware of the injunction? Did you break the injunction? End of story and as the number of people go through the courts, the penalties increase,” said Arbess.

News flash from Fairy Creek three hours prior to the beginning of the celebration: The RCMP have taken advantage of the celebration in Victoria to raid Heli Camp, HQ, and River Camp.

The Fairy Creek blockade began a year ago, when 30 activists from Victoria informed the Pacheedaht First Nation and set up a blockade. Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones was among the first to join them and quickly became the spiritual leader of this movement.

A number of people from both Cortes and Quadra Islands have been among the thousands reported going there.   

As of Thursday, August 5th, when the RCMP filed their most recent update, 523 people have been arrested at Fairy Creek and 374 were charged with breaching the injunction.

The RCMP released a statement saying they arrested 33 people during today’s raid on Fairy Creek.

Top photo credits: Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones addressing Fairy Creek defenders.

Sign-up for Cortes Currents email-out:

To receive an emailed catalogue of articles on Cortes Currents, send a (blank) email to subscribe to your desired frequency: