Vancouver Island First Nations plan to defer old-growth logging at protest sites

PORT RENFREW, B.C. — The leaders of three First Nations on southwestern Vancouver Island say they’ve told the B.C. government they want old-growth logging temporarily deferred in two areas, including the site at the centre of ongoing protests and arrests.

The Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht hereditary and elected chiefs say they’ve signed a declaration to take back power over their traditional territories after more than 150 years of decision-making by others about their land, water and people.

They say in a statement the three nations gave the province notice on Saturday of their intention to defer old-growth logging for two years in the Fairy Creek and central Walbran areas near Port Renfrew while they prepare stewardship plans.

Activists opposed to old-growth logging have been camped out at the Fairy Creek watershed since August and the RCMP began enforcing a court injunction last month in order to allow workers with the Teal-Jones Group to resume activities.

Teal-Jones says in a statement it will abide by the nations’ declaration and looks forward to engaging with them as they develop their forest management plans.

Premier John Horgan says the B.C. government honours the nations’ declaration and it’s pleased to enter into discussions about the logging deferral request.

“We understand the request must be addressed expeditiously, and we will ensure a prompt response,” Horgan said in a statement on Monday. 

More than 160 people have so far been arrested for breaching the civil court injunction at two protest sites on southern Vancouver Island, including Ferry Creek, where Teal-Jones had said it planned to harvest about 20 hectares.

The nations say third parties have no right to speak on their behalf and permitted forestry operations in other parts of their territories, outside the Fairy Creek and central Walbran areas, should be allowed to continue without disruption.

“For more than 150 years (the nations) have watched as others decided what was best for their lands, water, and people. This declaration brings this practice to an immediate end,” the nations’ leaders say in their statement released Monday.

The B.C. government has pledged to implement the recommendations from an independent review of old-growth forest management released last year, including the deferral of logging in ecosystems at risk of irreversible biodiversity loss.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2021.

The Canadian Press