ICA’s Statement on Fairy Creek Raids

Photo by Mike Graeme

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement on Fairy Creek Raids

September 7, 2021—Over the past year, Indigenous land defenders, leaders and allies have been calling for the end of detrimental logging in some of the world's last remaining high-productivity old growth forests through a series of blockades, protests, petitions and declarations that has been met with police brutality and violence. Old growth and ancient forests are home to critical ecosystems and biodiversity that are essential to the health of the planet, and the Indigenous communities that rely on them. In a time of severe climate change it’s imperative  we protect and preserve these systems.  Despite the growing cry to end logging in this region, Teal Jones group continues to devastatingly remove some of the largest and oldest trees on the planet. 

In response to the continued and unethical logging in the region, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) passed a resolution on June 20, 2021, to support the Protect Our Elder Trees Declaration, which calls for a deferral on logging ALL at risk old-growth forests, and demands First Nation engagement in any logging issue going forward.

Despite the continued outcry from Indigenous communities, allies and the public, the provincial government continues to act on behalf of corporate interests; which support injunctions from Teal Jones, and allow harmful logging in the region. Over the course of the last few months the RCMP have used unlawful tactics to prevent land defenders from accessing camps, and used excessive force when violently arresting land defenders. Most recently, the RCMP made a series of violent arrests on August 9, 2021, while enforcing injunctions secured by Teal Jones. To date, over 500 people have been arrested for protecting Fairy Creek.

Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) condemns the damaging measures taken by the Provincial and Federal governments for sanctioning and supporting the unlawful actions of the RCMP. The RCMP are violently arresting land defenders at the Fairy Creek old growth forest camps in order to protect the private corporate interests of Teal Jones, rather than protecting our Forest Elders and our people.  

The unlawful actions of the RCMP as defined by Judge Thompson's ruling from last month supports the fact that the RCMP do not have the legal authority to create  large-scale police exclusion zones, and the area should remain accessible to the public. ICA has been in touch with sources on the frontlines at Fairy Creek who have shared with us the concerning actions of the RCMP which have resulted in media being denied access, along with equipment and personal possessions of land defenders confiscated without permission from authorities and/or Teal Jones. The illegal actions undertaken by the RCMP and supported by provincial, federaland  corporate agencies are amounting in the violation of the right to peaceful protest and likely other human rights. 

“Our allies at Fairy Creek have shared stories, videos and photos of the ongoing violence perpetrated by the RCMP. This is a continuation of colonial violence felt by many Indigenous peoples across so-called Canada on the frontlines of extractive industries that threaten our people and our planet. Our peoples rights to access our lands and protect our lands and territories, and our right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) are continually violated in the name of corporate interests. The RCMP have been unjustifiably blocking land defenders and violently arresting allies and supporters. Earlier this month the RCMP raided the camps on the one year anniversary when media was diverted to the many solidarity actions that took place in other parts of the province. These actions are deplorable. We cannot allow the actions of the RCMP to go unabated and unnoticed,” stated Eriel Deranger, Executive Director of ICA.

The Fairy Creek region is within the territories of Nuu-chah-nulth Nations, who, like all Nations in BC, were not given the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent for logging on their lands. The exclusion of Indigenous leadership evidently results in the colonial mismanagement of intricate ecosystems (as we see in the Fairy Creek region); ecosystems Indigenous Peoples have been living with since time immemorial.

The provincial and federal government is actively undermining Indigenous Title and Rights on the Indigenous territories of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations, and governments must relinquish colonial control to meaningfully engage with Indigenous leaders. It is after all members of Nuu-chah-nulth communities and other Indigenous land defenders who continue to hold the line.

While there are contradicting reports on what’s happening at the various blockades in the Fairy Creek watershed, what is clear is that Indigenous leaders from the territory have called for the protection and preservation of the Fairy Creek old growth forest - known as  Elder Trees and ancestors to many… This ecosystem is crucially important for the health of our planet, society, and the rights and cultures of Indigenous Nations and communities. This is especially true in the face of an increasingly dire climate change emergency.

“If we turn a blind eye to the deforestation of some of our ancient ancestors then we are no better than those that are sanctioning the destruction of these lives. We must all stand in solidarity with those on the frontlines and for those that cannot speak for themselves, we must protect these lands and territories for future generations and for the planet,” concluded Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Director of Healing Justice, ICA. 

We, at ICA, stand with Indigenous land defenders protecting our lands, our waterways, our cultures, our rights and our planet. We stand with Fairy Creek and demand the end of old growth logging. 

Media inquires:

Amber Bernard, External Media Coordinator

amber@indigenousclimateaction.com

Indigenous Climate Action supports Indigenous Peoples, reinforcing our place as leaders in climate change discourse and driving solutions for today and tomorrow. Our work is grounded in four main pathways: Gatherings, Resources and Tools, Amplifying Voices and Supporting Indigenous Sovereignty.