This is a call for forest defenders from all nations to support and participate in the grassroots non-violent direct action campaign to protect the last ancient temperate rainforests, currently active on unceded Pacheedaht territory, so-called Vancouver island, B.C.
Fed up with the foot-dragging of a provincial government serving corporate resource extraction interests, for the past 6 weeks we have been holding down two blockade positions on logging roads leading to old-growth forest cutblocks and road incursions into the unlogged Fairy Creek watershed, the last unlogged watershed in the San Juan river system. There have been no injunctions, no arrests and we want you to join us this fall season, until the snows arrive and shut down the logging and road-building for the year!
This grassroots movement is a necessary response to protect the last old-growth temperate rainforests on Vancouver island, now tragically facing near-total eradication by the British Columbia government and logging companies. Thirty-two soccer fields per day of old-growth temperate rainforest, representing the last 1% of these rare, irreplaceable and internationally-significant forests are logged every day on Vancouver island, alone. In a downward spiralling climate and biodiversity crisis, threatening the future of all life on Earth, this situation calls for widepread non-violent civil disobedience.
We operate under the banner of # oldgrowthblockade and are organized by volunteer activism and spontaneous, community-driven mobilization and the efforts of hundreds of people pulling together in a variety of wonderful ways to defend the land, its ecosystems, web of life and climate future for all from the colonial/capitalist resource extractivist violence, known as industrial forestry.
This blockade has received an official welcome from Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones who is directly involved in the blockade camps. There has been no public statement, for or against the blockades, from the Pacheedaht Chief and council.
The government’s recent announcement on the release of its Old-Growth Strategic Review has not brought even interim protection for most critical old-growth forest hotspots on south Vancouver island, regrettably creating a situation where grassroots activists must tend blockades to win protection for these last ancient forest ecosystems and a just transition to sustainable forestry alternatives to continued old-growth logging.
We need you to help us protect these sacred old forests and to hold down the blockades over the rainy season! If you are looking for a free nature retreat in the company of kindred spirits, to engage in community-based resistance, life and culture and participate in land-based building projects, to walk in the glory of the last spectacular ancient forests, experience amazing starscapes and stay warm around the radiant glow of a campfire or woodstove at night reach out to us at : oldgrowthblockade.com.
E-transfer donations to support these efforts can be sent to rain4estflyingsquad@gmail.
Preparing for The Weather
The west coast as you know can be very wet and windy and we are currently winterizing our camps.
Good solid rain gear, lots of thermal layers, wool, polypro and no cotton clothing with good waterproof boots, tent and large tarp and ropes to keep your shelter dry, are critical to survival over the rainy season. Please dress appropriately!
Blockade Code of Conduct
All who come into the Fairy Creek blockade camps must read and agree to abide by this code of conduct.
· This a settler-initiated blockade for old-growth forest protection on unceded Pacheedaht territory.
· This is a peaceful, respectful blockade. There is no tolerance for violent behavior, destruction of property, or acts of aggression towards anyone.
· We respect elders and are quiet when they speak. We are hospitable and caring toward elders and we honor them with our undivided attention.
· We aim to end the current corporate land tenure system that has dispossessed Indigenous communities of their land base. We respect and acknowledge the inseparable relationship of the Pacheedaht First Nation and the land on which the blockades are located.
· We expect visitors to the camps to recognize and affirm the rights and title of Pacheedaht First Nation, and to act with an appropriate level of respect.
· We watch our language while at camp. Statements that dismiss the importance of respecting territory such as “I don’t care whose land I am on, I just want to protect the trees” reflect white privilege and can be harmful to Indigenous peoples. These statements contribute to the collective erasure of indigenous peoples, which is part of the process of colonization. Allowing cultural genocide to continue on the lands we aim to protect is contrary to our desire to create a safe and inclusive camp environment.
· We will not bring weapons into the camp or abuse drugs or alcohol.
· We respect the values of non-violence and will show compassion to ourselves, others and this place.
· We take responsibility for our own needs, physical and mental, with respect for the collective.
· This a settler-initiated blockade for old-growth forest protection on unceded Pacheedaht territory.
· This is a peaceful, respectful blockade. There is no tolerance for violent behavior, destruction of property, or acts of aggression towards anyone.
· We respect elders and are quiet when they speak. We are hospitable and caring toward elders and we honor them with our undivided attention.
· We aim to end the current corporate land tenure system that has dispossessed Indigenous communities of their land base. We respect and acknowledge the inseparable relationship of the Pacheedaht First Nation and the land on which the blockades are located.
· We expect visitors to the camps to recognize and affirm the rights and title of Pacheedaht First Nation, and to act with an appropriate level of respect.
· We watch our language while at camp. Statements that dismiss the importance of respecting territory such as “I don’t care whose land I am on, I just want to protect the trees” reflect white privilege and can be harmful to Indigenous peoples. These statements contribute to the collective erasure of indigenous peoples, which is part of the process of colonization. Allowing cultural genocide to continue on the lands we aim to protect is contrary to our desire to create a safe and inclusive camp environment.
· We will not bring weapons into the camp or abuse drugs or alcohol.
· We respect the values of non-violence and will show compassion to ourselves, others and this place.
· We take responsibility for our own needs, physical and mental, with respect for the collective.
Camp Guidelines
At least one person must be awake at 4am every day in order to greet industry/law enforcement, informing them that the blockade has been established to bring protection for the old-growth temperate rainforests of Fairy Creek and the last remaining 1% of old-growth forests and that only people who have read the code of conduct and agreed to it can participate in camp.
Prepare for a situation where company officials may be gathering intel and affidavit evidence on the blockade If company officials are asking anyone ( especially on camera, a sign that they are preparing material to seek an injunction in court) if they will let them by to go to work, access logs or machinery, it is best to be vague about your intentions, do not reveal your identity ( legally not required unless you are arrested or detained by police) and to use positive language like: ” We are here to ensure the ecosystems, life-forms and ecological services provided by this forest remain free of further harm” Please report signs that company officials are gathering photos and video footage to rain4estflyingsquad@gmail.
· At least one person must be on the road at all times. Never leave the gate unattended. Be kind when you greet people, and make sure they put their info in the contact tracing clipboard. Remember to socially distance and be welcoming to everyone.
· Greeters, be kind! There is no need to meet visitors with hostility. Ask them if they’ve been here before. Remember, the only people we’re stopping are loggers with machinery. Anyone else, including tree planters, hunters, fishers, hikers are free to pass by.
· Please arrive self-sufficient, with camping gear, food, and drinking water purification. .
· This is a COVID compliant camp: Bring a mask, hand sanitizer and remember to practice social distancing.
· Read the binder. It contains the code of conduct, information on de-escalating conflict, and other very useful blockade-related information.
· Keep camp clean! Leave behind a clean kitchen for the next person. Always use hand sanitizer before using the kitchen space and handling food. Pack it i.n, pack it out!
· Be bear smart. Never leave food or garbage unattended and put compost in the fire. Bins of food get locked up at night, either in a bear shed or someone’s vehicle.
· Film and photograph everything (first get peoples’ consent, of course), and send updates to the Fairy Creek Blockade facebook page.
· Help out around camp! Collect firewood and river water, keep things clean and get involved in projects to help improve camp infrastructure
Current Camp Locations/ Driving Directions
Both locations are accessed through active logging routes. Use extreme caution and when possible only attempt to drive up or down after 3pm (when active logging is *usually* finished for the day).
Camp 1 ( Ridge Camp)
Road conditions are rough and either 4WD, high vehicle clearance, good tire tread and/or experience and confidence driving on ungraded logging roads, is required for safety.
Here are the driving directions
km 0: intersection of Deering Rd. and Pacific Marine Rd., Port Renfrew ( after 2nd bridge from Victoria) – turn left toward Avatar Grove onto Gordon Mainline
5 km: Turn right onto Brayden main (no sign) just before narrow bridge over Gordon river. If you cross that bridge, you missed the turn-off.
8.8 km Take left fork
12.9: Turn right uphill onto Reid Mainline
18.1: Stay left at fork
19.5 km: Turn right
21 km: End of the road. Fairy Creek Action Camp
Camp 2 (River Camp)
This is a much more accessible road No 4WD required, though good tire tread, experience and confidence on logging roads is!
This camp is accessed off Granite main, via the Pacific Marine Rd (5.3km E of the Fairy Lake Recreation Site), if you are driving from Port Renfrew).
0km – Intersection of Granite Main and Pacific Marine Road.
Stay on Granite Main, Keeping left at major forks. drive for 7 km and you will arrive at the camp.
Fairy Creek Blockade Chronology of Events
August 1st : Discovery of Stone Pacific ( subcontracting to Teal Jones) road construction cresting the Ridge into the unlogged Fairy Creek headwaters
August 9: Grassroots activists from across Vancouver island meet at Lizard Lake and decide to erect an emergency logging road blockade at the end of Reid mainline, on a high ridge on the western side of Fairy Creek headwater, to prevent cutting, bulldozing and blasting activity into Fairy Creek the very next day. Notice is sent to Pacheedhat Chief and Council and Elder Bill Jones of setter-activist intentions to block road-building operations on their unceded territory.
August 10: Ridge camp blockade turns away Stone Pacific road and falling crews. Call out to request people to attend camp to defend against logging road construction into the last unlogged watershed in the San Juan River system.
August 17th, 2nd blockade at River Camp is established at another road access point into Fairy Creek along Granite mainline in the Renfrew Creek watershed, on the east side of Fairy Creek.
August 24th, a temporary, pop-up blockade is set up on Braden Mainline aimed at halting road-building and logging of old-growth forests on Edinburgh mountain, across from Fairy Creek in the San Juan river basin.
August 31st, Ridge camp blockade is moved 7kms down the road to a new blockade location aimed at halting road-construction into Fairy Creek and logging of contiguous old-growth forest adjacent to the Fairy Creek watershed.
September 4, Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones releases an official letter of invitation to Indigenous and non-Indigenous forest defenders to unite on the territory to defend the old-growth rainforests on his ancestral lands. An Elder’s tent is built at River Camp, where the elder has been staying overnight.
September 6, A caravan of Indigenous youth and elders, from many territories visit the blockades to further advise on appropriate respect protocols for forest defenders taking action on the land. 
September 22, The blockade camp on Reid main is moved back to its original position at the top of the Ridge at the end of Reid main. More Pacheedaht community members visit the blockades.
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