View this email in your browser We are honoured to do this work as guests on traditional territory of the Pacheedaht and Ditidaht First Nations. We work with utmost respect for the land and all its relations, human and nonhuman. We're not standing down Despite last week's announcement by the Province of British Columbia, which defers logging in key areas in Fairy Creek and the Central Walbran, the majority of what we've been defending is still on the chopping block. Because this announcement will convince many people that the fight is over, we need you now more than ever. RCMP enforcement continues, with increasingly dangerous extractions of land defenders, including teenagers. Today the RCMP sent 47 overt officers, at least two special ops officers in camo in the woods, and an unknown number of undercover officers to arrest eight forest defenders. Despite set-backs earlier in the week and ongoing police intimidation and arrests, WE HAVE HELD OUR GROUND! Brave forest defenders of all ages continue to delay industry by chaining themselves to the earth, to logs, to gates, to each other, and suspending themselves high above the earth at the tops of their beloved trees or up in tripods. On Friday, hereditary leadership travelled from Fairy Creek to Victoria to join hundreds of supporters on the steps of the legislature. They expressed their outrageat the BCNDP for its ongoing colonial violence and for failing to act on the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review. Elder Bill Jones has said unequivocally that now is not the time to stand down. In the past few days we lost Eden camp, and logging is happening up 2000 road. We need more people - please join us on the ground. If you can't come to camp, look for a local action in your area below.  Thank you for standing strong with us.   COME TO CAMP   We need your help. Please forward this to any friends or family you feel would like to be involved or learn more. This newsletter will be a source of new information about this once-in-a-lifetime movement. JOIN OUR LIST Support land defenders on the ground.  DONATE TO RFS DONATE TO SUPPORT INDIGENOUS LAND DEFENDERS     UPCOMING EVENTS + ACTIONS SUN JUNE 13, VANCOUVER: Hunger Strike for Old Growth SUN JUNE 13, TORONTO: Fairy Creek Solidarity Rally SUN, JUNE 13, TOFINO: Protect Old Growth Forests SAT JUNE 19, ONLINE: Summer Blessings Fundraiser   What does the deferral do?  In Fairy Creek watershed itself, the deferral only impacts one km of approved road building at the headwaters. However, in the greater adjacent intact rainforest area surrounding Fairy Creek, currently  40 hectares of old growth logging and over five km of road building is already approved. Large-scale logging could still occur in old-growth forest directly adjacent to Fairy Creek, and in parts of the Central Walbran not included in the deferral.  The new deferral in the Central Walbran only impacts 14.6 of the 21.6 hectares of old-growth logging approved in the Central Walbran, and only impacts 0.5 km of the 4.3 km of approved road building in the central valley.   In his press conference the Premier stated that “all of the old growth” in the Central Walbran and Fairy Creek would be protected. If Premier Horgan had been serious about protecting these areas, he would have included a 2,080-hectare deferral at Fairy Creek (containing the entire rainforest contiguous with the valley) and a 2,600 hectare deferral in the Central Walbran.         About Rainforest Flying Squad The Rainforest Flying Squad is a volunteer-driven, grassroots, non-violent direct-action movement, committed to protecting the last stands of globally significant ancient temperate rainforest on Vancouver Island. The Rainforest Flying Squad/LastStandforForests stands in solidarity with Elder Bill Jones and other members of the Pacheedaht First Nation who want the forests protected. More information at laststandforforests.com. Photos by Mike Graeme + Owen Perry   

Day 308 of direct action protecting Vancouver Island's ancient temperate rainforests on Pacheedaht and Ditidaht territories 205 arrests to date and counting 8 total arrests yesterday ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, June 10th Ada'itsx / Fairy Creek, Pacheedaht Territory 2000 Road The RCMP were met yesterday with a fire at the bottom of the hill and a series of soft blockades built of rocks, logs, and debris. Rather than dismantling these by hand, they used a frontloader.  Next, they encountered a woman who had her arm chained inside a piece of metal that was buried under large rocks. Across from her was a man in a sleeping dragon. Finally was a tripod sitter, towering over two more sleeping dragons, and a single forest defender locked into a metal device under the ground. RCMP engaged with our police liaison and made the exclusion zone close enough to the action for clear legal observation.    Waterfall Camp, Fairy Creek, Pacheedaht Territory Today: Despite the province's deferral, RCMP are again enforcing the injunction at Waterfall today. About 23 RCMP vehicles arrived there. We understand that the one km of road-building into Fairy Creek is not deferred. Thursday, June 10: RCMP met forest defenders on Granite Main at the 1.5 km marker. An RCMP officer instructed a frontloader operator to clear the road of the 30 metres worth of rock and log walls we had constructed. A forest defender stood in front of the machine. He was read the injunction and arrested.  We had a rare RCMP compliment, marvelling at the increasing intricacy of our constructions.  They surveyed the area using a drone and helicopter before leaving for the day. We are wondering if enforcement here will stop, based on the recent deferrals.   Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw Territory Helena Kreowska is now finishing the 10th day of a hunger strike for Fairy Creek. She intends to fast until the trees are protected. See her statement in Focus here.   Elder Bill Jones has said unequivocally that now is not the time to stand down. The majority of what we have been defending is still on the chopping block. More later on the Last Stand at the Legislature rally, today, June 10.

LAST STAND AT THE LEGISLATURE FRIDAY, JUNE 11,  NOON Massive Rally Defending Old Growth Forests Planned for BC Legislature Victoria, BC - A broad coalition of elders, protectors of old-growth, defenders of Fairy Creek, academics and determined citizens from across the province are gathering at the BC Legislature lawns  Friday, June 11, 12 – 2 pm, to call on Premier John Horgan’s NDP government to ensure all old-growth forests in the province are permanently protected. While the NDP government’s official ratification of the recent announcement by the Pacheedaht, Dididaht and Huu-ay-aht First Nations for a 2-year deferral on old-growth logging at Fairy Creek watershed and Central Walbran is an encouraging first step, it falls short of what is needed. Vicky Husband, environmental activist and rally speaker confirms. “Let’s call Premier John Horgan’s sleazy forest policies what they are: a colonial defence of 'talk and log’, and a moral failure to protect the province’s remaining old growth forests.  Horgan has sparked a brutal new war in the woods by denying two realities: our forests have been massively over cut for little added value, and we have now come to the long-predicted end of our old-growth forests. It is time for everyone to stand up for Indigenous rights and protection of the seriously endangered remaining old growth forests.” This grassroots coalition under the guidance and wisdom of Pacheedaht Elder, Bill Jones, has declared its intention to advocate for a immediate pause on old growth clear cutting and support the Fairy Creek blockades until all old-growth forests in BC are protected.  “I will continue standing for the land until I am dead,” Elder Jones said. “I feel like an old growth tree is worth the same as my life.  I implore people to continue to stand with me to protect our forests from destruction and colonialism; we need allies on the ground to stop old growth logging Iinmy home territory, and for my future generations and relatives.” A Press Conference moderated by Saul Arbess, Rainforest Flying Squad Core Member, will be held at noon, preceding the rally.  The press conference panel will include indigenous voices, forestry researchers and environmental champions.   Press Conference Panel: Patrick Jones, nephew of Elder Bill Jones, Pacheedaht Nation Shawna Knight, Rainforest Flying Squad Core Member and Tree Sitter Andy McKinnon, Metchosin Cllr., Retired Ecologist, BC Min. of  Forests Vicky Husband, Environmental Activist, Member of the Order of Canada Brandi Lancaster- L’alittlilakw of Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw Villages Brianna Bear, of Songhees Nation, will open the rally, following the Press Conference, with a welcome, territorial acknowledgement, and lead a ritual honouring the 215 Indigenous children whose remains were recently found at the Kamloops Residential ­School.  Please wear orange in honour of the children. Rally Co-Ms:  Jessica Ostroff, Rainforest Flying Squad Tree Sitter Briony Penn, Environmentalist, Author Kumi Nash, Youth blockader Rainbow Eyes, Rainforest Flying Squad Defender Rally Presenters: Will O’Connell, Rainforest Flying Squad Core Member Pablo, Rainforest Flying Squad Core Member Gregg McElroy, Canadian Orca Rescue Society Dr. Suzanne Simard, UBC Professor of Forestry, via audio-link Bobby Arbess, Rainforest Flying Squad Core Member Rose Henry, Tla’amin Nation Kathy Code, Rainforest Flying Squad Core Member Tiffany Joseph, Artist and Environmental Speaker Carol Tootill, Rainforest Flying Squad Core Member This event will be Livestreamed by Jason Guille of Stream of Consciousness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9nVpbLrFuI