Anti-old-growth-logging protesters have vacated one of their last remaining camps leading to the Fairy Creek Watershed.
With snow on the ground, it’s far from ideal camping conditions.
The group also says the snow makes their roadside campsite dangerous so in social media posts this week the Rainforest Flying Squad announced they’re pulling out of one of their last remaining camps at least for the short term.
View this post on Instagram
“There’s no logging happening right now. Mother nature has her own blockade with the snow so we have an Indigenous-led occupation on their own territory and they’ll stay and keep watch for spring or for next actions with industry and we’ll just be waiting,” said Shawna Knight from the Rainforest Flying Squad.
This past year saw RCMP make more than 1,100 arrests in the region in what’s called Canada’s largest act of civil disobedience as protesters stopped or slowed the logging of old-growth.
The protesters and some members of local First Nations are among those still awaiting a decision from the BC Court of Appeal about the status of the temporary injunction granted to logging company Teal Jones.
“We won’t be going away. We’re simply attending to our safety at other places and we will be patrolling and checking all the access points to the territory,” said Bill Jones, a Pacheedaht elder.
RCMP says the removal of the roadside camp on the way to Fairy Creek won’t alter their operations in the region.
“We’ve maintained our presence since December, ongoing roving patrols, just to make sure that the roads are clear and accessible. We haven’t had any issues. There have been no arrests since mid-to-late-December,” said Sgt. Chris Manseau, with Island District RCMP.
The company with the largest stake in the region, Teal Jones, says it’s not surprised protesters are largely pulling out.
“It’s not a very hospitable place to be at this time of year that’s for sure so we hope everyone gets out safely and cleans up the mess that they’ve been leaving behind in all the various camps,” said Conrad Browne, Teal Jones’ director of Indigenous partnerships and strategic relations.
The protesters say some of their members are now involved in protests on Wet’suwet’en territory in northern B.C. while others will take a much-needed break.
Kendall Hanson
