‘It’s quite shocking’: Growing forest protest camp sets up in Nitinaht defying First Nations

Chiefs from the Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht and Pacheedaht First Nations faced off against protesters who were wearing masks and camouflage Thursday, as an illegal encampment and blockade grew in Ditidaht territory near Nitinat.

“We ask you to clean up your mess, pack up and leave as soon as possible,” Ditidaht’s elected Chief Brian Tate told protesters.

“We’re here to inform you, about the things you have crossed, the boundaries you have crossed and the disrespect you’re showing,” said Tate.

“It’s quite shocking as far as respect goes, said Jeff Jones, elected Chief of the Pacheedaht First Nation.

The encampment is built at the very same spot, as the ‘Hummingbird camp,’ where the first arrests took place in last summer’s Fairy Creek protests. So the RCMP’s presence Thursday suggested there is growing concern this camp could grow into that.

“I don’t know what we’re preparing for, but it’s going to be a chess match,” said Tate.

The Fairy Creek blockades saw hundreds of people arrested, and millions of dollars spent on policing as demonstrators chained themselves to logging gates — all while demanding the government to end old-growth logging.

“We have an inherent right to say who can come on our lands and who can’t come on our lands. That is being exercised by the highest authority of the Ditidaht people,” said Robert Dennis, elected Chief of the Huu-Ay-Aht First Nation.

“I’m here to support the Ditidaht people because we are family,” said Jones.

What’s different at this new camp, which was set up three weeks ago, is that the protesters are calling themselves “We Are One” and some could be seen carrying weapons.

Some protesters told CHEK News that they have been given permission from Indigenous elders in the community to defend their forest.

“They want us here to protect what they cannot and what you’re taking from them,” a protester from ‘We Are One.’

“There’s far more people up in the forest too. They’re all decked out in black or camo and the people that walked through could see knives on their hips,” said Tate.

“I can’t give away numbers but I can tell you that we are here until the elders tell us different,” the protester from ‘We Are One’ told CHEK News.

Protesters refused to leave the territory as asked.

That now has Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht and Pacheedaht officials discussing what to do next, as a renewed war in the woods takes shape, looking a lot like Fairy Creek all over again.

sryan@cheknews.ca

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