Action of the Week – DONATE!

Since this is a season for deepening our generosity, we suggest two new ways to donate: contribute to fundraiser campaigns to support individual land defenders staying in ‘Ada’itsx; and support the work of Mark Nykanen of XRTV Victoria, who has produced excellent coverage of our movement.
We may not be able to camp out on the front lines, but those of us who are able can put our resources and financial privilege to support those who are!

Fundraising Appeals/Events

1. Directly support frontline land defenders at ‘Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek Land Defender Fundraisers on Facebook. This is a collection of GoFundMe personal fundraisers for Ada’itsx land defenders, many of whom are committed to the blockade and have few if any, financial resources. Scroll through the posts to choose who you would like to support.

2. Support the work of Mark Nykanen of XRTV Victoria, who has produced excellent video coverage on ‘Ada’itsx, including Elders’ actions over the last months. XRTV is a non-profit whose show “runs on the unbroken energy of volunteers dedicated to Advocacy Journalism for the Planet”.

   Donations are deeply appreciated. Watch Mark’s personal ask here. Send donations by e-transfer to XRTV_Victoria@protonmail.com; or if you prefer, a cheque by snail mail to: XRTV-Victoria, c/o Regine Klein, 2284 Bukin Place, Victoria BC V9E 1H4.
   “With all your ongoing support, we will ensure that those on the frontline of the climate and ecological crisis are seen and heard — and protected. Thank you!”
   — Mark Nykanen and the entire XRTV production team.

   Watch Mark’s four videos on ‘Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek — highlighted in the section below.

3. Donate to The Last Stand For Ancient Forests – ‘Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek Blockades, the official RFS fundraising site.

4. Mark Dec 18 on your calendar for an Ada’itsx Fundraising Musical Evening at the Victoria Event Centre with headliner Logan Staats—a Juno-winning Mohawk musician from Treaty 2 who was recently arrested in Wet’suwet’en territory and has been on the front lines at ‘Ada’itsx—and local performers. All attending must be double-vaxxed. The venue is not wheelchair-accessible. Stairs to be climbed!

   Tickets will be on sale at Victoria Event Centre soon. A $25 contribution is suggested—or whatever you can afford.
   Organizing help would be really appreciated. Contact mar mar at 250-580-9336.

The ‘Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek struggle through the eyes of Mark Nykanen

Watch and share these four videos Mark Nykanen has made of the resistance to old-growth logging in ‘Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek.

RISE UP FOR THE FALLEN  (Nov 28) An Indigenous-led march to the British Columbia Legislature is captured in video and song, banners, and words. Colorful and compelling, it commemorates the sacrifices of thousands who have tried to save ancient trees and memorialize those that have fallen in the struggle.

VICTIMS OF RCMP VIOLENCE SPEAK OUT (Sep 3) Forest protectors reveal what they endured. A nationally renowned criminologist calls out the RCMP for its ongoing assaults on citizens.

ELDERS AT FAIRY CREEK (Aug 21) The report on Elders for Ancient Trees begins at the 3:32-second mark. It covers two of the trips the Elders made to Fairy Creek.

XRTV FAIRY CREEK (Aug 1) XRTV-Victoria questions RCMP Sargeant Christopher Manseau about the RCMP violence against Fairy Creek forest protectors.

Upcoming Events

Dec 7, Tuesday, 6-8 pm, UVic, David Turpin Bldg, A102 Unceded Chiefs film screening and fundraiser for W̱SÁNEĆ students of Parklands Secondary School. The film traces the historic early activism of BC First Nations leaders in the 1960s. To be followed by a panel featuring Mavis Underwood, Charles Elliott, Don Tom, and Eric Pelkey. Admission by donation—$10 suggested — to support students’ On the Land learning.
To attend online, please fill out this form. You will be emailed a zoom link on the day of the event. To donate for online viewing, send an e-transfer to tiffanyrevitalist@gmail.com.

Dec 8, 3-5 pm, Wednesday Rally for Ancient Forests+Forest Protectors, BC Leg, Gov’t & Belleville. We’ll decide collectively ~4 if we march with the Boat of Truth (we found this decision was best last week) likely on a walk to the BellMedia building at Pandora & Broad, home of CFAX and Adam Stirling, Victoria’s worst mainstream media purveyor of lies and misinformation about RCMP violence and the Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek blockade. Signs available. Bring friends!

Dec 8, Wednesday, 4-5 pm, Meet the Ministers, a Zoom chat on nature protection and climate action with Ministers Gilbeault, Murray, and Wilkinson, sponsored by CPAWS. Please register ahead.

Dec 11, Saturday, 1:30-3 pm, Forest Walk ‘n’ Talk, Francis/King Regional Park. Join Wilderness Committee staffers Torrance and Emily for a walk in Francis King Park to talk about what all the new developments on old-growth forests really mean, the next steps, and how you can take action. Meet in the main parking lot at 1:30 pm, 20 people max. Please register at the link above.

Dec 13, Monday, various MLA offices, Wilderness Committee candlelight vigil for those who have died in climate-related disasters. Find an event and details at the link above.

Logging of ancient forests continues

The day before the UBCIC  press conference, Wilderness Committee released maps showing that up to 50,000 Ha. of old growth identified for “potential deferral“ a month ago has already been clear-cut.

And according to our map expert, Joshua, the “recent Huu-ay-aht announcement that they will agree to the deferral to logging on 96% of the recommended areas is not a big win.” He states that “The band council has deliberately excluded most (if not all) of the forests that were scheduled to be logged over the next two years (totaling over 600 Ha), meaning that this deferral is pure greenwashing. This means that logging will continue in the Klanawa valley.”

Ancient trees are falling daily in the area of what was once Heli Camp.  Eden Grove and other ancient forests in Ada’itsx/Greater Fairy Creek are slated for the chopping block.

The government and some band councils are playing a terrible smoke and mirrors game designed to thoroughly confuse the public and allow industry to continue its destruction of ancient living ecosystems that can never be replaced.

This is why the blockade continues. See In the News links for more on this.

From the Frontlines

Elders Blockade in the Early Hours
~ a report from Lisa Baile and Peter Paré

Unbelievably, after the recent deluges, sunshine was promised for Thursday, Dec 2. But there was no sunshine for the group of 30 elders from the Comox Valley, Duncan, and Pender Island who gathered in the pre-dawn darkness at Fairy Creek to protest the unbridled destruction of the last fragments of ancient forests in British Columbia. The only light was the hope in our hearts and the songs we sang for Mother Earth.

We were here to protest Teal-Jones’ logging and the building of new roads, and to demand the NDP government stop all logging of old-growth.  So when a dozen or so RCMP arrived before first light, ten elders, aged from the late ’50s to early ’80s, stood (or rather lay) their ground while the rest of the group and the forest defenders from Roadside Camp provided vocal and drumming support.

We were carried to the paddy wagons like limp rags, peaceful even after lying on the cold ground for 45 minutes. By around 9 am we were taken to the old gravel pit near HQ for more ‘processing,’ which took an interminable four hours. Around 13:00 we were driven to Port Renfrew, where many of us burst into song as we were released from the paddy wagon, clutching our summons documents to appear at the Duncan Supreme Court.

I think this is good news as it is an opportunity to organize a large protest outside the courthouse and, hopefully, arrestees will be able to tell the judge exactly why we were prepared to get up in the middle of the night in the dark and lay our bodies on the ground for protection of the only planet we have.

One of the arrestees, Sheryl, age 63, had this to say: “I realize we have to stand in the way of the extinction of these trees, these forests, these ecosystems, this planet, this living water we drink, this air we breathe, our lives, and the lives of our children. What I want: government to remember that people matter more than corporations and that being wilfully blind will literally end us.”

(In addition to the ten settler elders, two land defenders were arrested. For more on this story, see this Dec 6 National Observer article and Dec 2 Rainforest Flying Squad Press Release.)

In the News

Dec 6, National Observer, Seniors arrested as Fairy Creek blockade digs in for winter

Dec 6, The Chilliwack Progress, Nelson ecologist questions B.C.’s roll-out of old growth strategy —an important article by Rachel Holt, the lead scientist on the Old-Growth Technical Review Panel

Dec 5, Focus on Victoria, Celebrating, Grieving and Fighting for Earth’s Species, an account by Grace Golightly of the Rise Up for the Fallen event and details of the many species at risk.

Dec 5, Times-Colonist, The Islander Mother Nature has shown us that ‘business as usual’ is a disaster

Dec 4, Globe & Mail, The age of unrest: Canada’s failure to properly manage protests threatens democracy and the rule of law

Dec 3, National Observer, B.C.’s at-risk old growth still on the chopping block

Dec 2, Wilderness Committee, New mapping shows approved or pending logging permits in at least 50,000 hectares of BC’s target deferral area

Dec 2, Rainforest Flying Squad press release, Elders from Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands arrested at Fairly Creek

Dec 2, Times Colonist Huu-ay-aht First Nations agree to old-growth logging deferral

Dec 2, The Free Press, B.C. government falling short with old-growth forest protection, say Indigenous leaders — 30-day limit to respond to old growth deferral inadequate, says grand chief and union

Dec 2, Capital Daily, Some of the old-growth in possible deferral zones has already been logged Podcast with Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and Torrance Coste of the Wilderness Committee

Dec 2, Dogwood,  Welcome to Beautiful British Columbia satirical video (44 sec)

Dec 1, Sierra Club, Thirty days milestone shows B.C.’s old-growth intentions require immediate funding

Dec 1, UBCIC News Release First Nations and TAP Member Demand Faster Action and Adequate Resources to Protect Old-Growth Forests

Nov 30, The Guardian, A powerful and underappreciated ally in the climate crisis? Fungi

Nov 30, Canadian Press, Progress report says Nova Scotia still clear-cutting too much of its forests

Nov 29, iPolitics, In BC It’s Time to Move beyond our Timber Centric Thinking