ANCIENT FOREST PROTECTORS

Fairy Creek protesters say they will carry on despite reinstating of injunction


Jeff Bell / Times Colonist
OCTOBER 9, 2021 

A bus and sign are shown near the Eden blockade in the Fairy Creek area near Port Renfrew, B.C., on May, 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jen Osborne

Fairy Creek protesters say they are undeterred by a B.C. Court of Appeal decision to reinstate an injunction against them.

Protesters have been trying to block old-growth logging in the Fairy Creek area, near Port Renfrew, since August 2020. Court hearings have been told that protesters have set up barriers to block forestry workers and their equipment.

“We’re not going anywhere,” said Kathleen Code, a member of the Rainforest Flying Squad protest group.

Friday’s decision follows a Sept. 28 B.C. Supreme Court ruling that an injunction against the protesters’ blockades, granted to forestry company Teal Jones on April 1, wouldn’t be extended. That ruling said RCMP enforcement had led to serious infringement of civil liberties.

Code said the protesters are “incredibly disappointed” and had been optimistic after the Sept. 28 court outcome.

“We had a glimmer of hope,” she said.

Code said it seems a private contract that benefits a lone business “is far more important than the rights of citizens.”

“It’s an incredible setback for us but we’ve consulted with Elder Bill [Jones] and he is determined that we should stay on,” she said. “We are still staying and we will still stay and protect the trees.

“We’re not going anywhere.”

Bill Jones is a member of the Pacheedaht First Nation who supports the protesters’ efforts.

Teal Jones said in a statement that it had disagreed with Supreme Court decision ruling on not extending the injunction and went ahead with the appeal.

“To do otherwise would be to allow anarchy to reign over civil society and for misinformation campaigns to win over fact,” the company said. “The blockaders have been flouting both the stated wishes of the local First Nations and the well-reasoned court injunction, while engaging in dangerous and illegal activity and spreading misinformation through sophisticated and well-financed campaigns.”

Employees and contractors have borne the brunt of an escalation of behaviour by protesters, the statement said.

“Activists have sprung out of the bush naked and run at fallers actively working with a saw in an effort to startle them. They have dug trenches across public roads. They have vandalized equipment.”

“All Canadian workers deserve a safe workplace free from such harassment.”

Saul Arbess, another Rainforest Flying Squad member, said there is further legal action to take.

“We’re looking forward now to the actual leave to appeal,” he said. “We’re looking forward to much greater elaboration that happens with the appeals court.”

Arbess said protesters have been able to pay for lawyers through fundraising. “We have raised money separately from the Rainforest Flying Squad as the Elders for Ancient Trees, and we have so far been able to support our lawyers.”

He said the situation always comes back to “government inaction.”

A fair and dance to support the protest effort took place Friday at Fisherman’s Wharf Park. Near Fairy Creek, a “Return to Eldership” 24-hour sit-in began at noon Saturday.

People taking part were urged to prepare for rain and to “bring 1,000 friends.”

“We’re calling all land defenders to come spend some time with us this weekend in the trees and at camp,” said a message from protesters.

Code said it is hard to estimate how many people are staying around Fairy Creek, since the number of encampments changes and more people are in the area on weekends.

Protesters said there have been 1,088 arrests so far.

jbell@timescolonist.com