Photo by Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek Blockade.
On Tuesday November 25 and Wednesday November 26, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Critical Response Unit-British Columbia (CRU-BC) raided the Cougar Camp established on Pacheedaht territory to stop the logging of old-growth trees. At least six forest defenders were arrested during that raid.
On November 25, the Ada’itsx / Fairy Creek Blockade posted on Instagram: “We are being raided at this exact moment.”
On November 27, they posted on Instagram: “RCMP BURNS CAMP TO THE GROUND AND DENIES ACCESS TO ELDER BILL IN VIOLATION OF INJUNCTION … Bill’s spiritual cabin was burned to the ground by industry along with the rest of camp. The RCMP has been facilitating this destruction.”
Video still: Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones says: “I was denied access to my religious and spiritual practice place up at the Walbran. Also my private property there was burnt down either by the RCMP or the industry as we call it.”
Video still from oldgrowthaction.
Stand.earth also posted: “On the morning of November 25, the RCMP Critical Response Unit (CRU) raided the forest protectors’ Cougar Camp in the Upper Walbran on Pacheedaht lands, which has been stopping logging in some of the last old growth forests left in B.C. since August 2025.”
That post continued: “Arrests have continued since then and given that past RCMP CRU operations at forest protection camps in B.C. like Fairy Creek have included violent arrests and injuries from militarized police, and blocked access to legal observers and media, there is a growing concern about the potential use of force and the treatment of those being detained or removed.”
Photos by Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek Blockade.
Ambitious camp established
By November 28, oldgrowthaction posted: “The aftermath of the RCMP raid on Cougar Camp – We have established a new camp for those wanting to join us on the front lines its name is Ambitious camp, and we are asking you to JOIN US!”
RCMP unit under investigation
The RCMP unit that raided and burned Cougar Camp is currently under investigation by a federal watchdog agency.
On March 9, 2023, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) launched a systemic investigation into he RCMP Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG), the previous name of CRU-BC.
That investigation includes C-IRG activities related to “the Teal Cedar Products Ltd injunction in the Fairy Creek watershed.”
It was launched after the CRCC received nearly 500 formal complaints about the C-IRG in British Columbia. CBC News reported at the time: “More than 100 grievances accepted for investigation contain allegations of excessive force, illegal tactics, unprofessional behaviour, racism, discrimination and charter violations by the force’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG).”
Notably, the CRCC has been without a chairperson since January 2025 meaning it is unable to issue any decisions. It is the responsibility of the federal Minister of Public Safety to appoint a new chairperson.
We continue to follow this.
Timeline of fairycreekblockade social media posts
August 24: “THE UPPER WALBRAN IS BEING CUT This week westernforestproducts started clear cutting 8 old growth cut blocks in the headwaters of the Walbran Watershed on Pacheedaht Territory. If we don’t draw the line industry -enabled by the provincial government- will keep logging these last elders of the forest until there are non left to log.”
August 25: “THE BLOCKADES ARE BACK … A 15-foot tall cougar sculpture has been erected to block logging trucks on Monday morning from actively logging in the Upper Walbran Valley. With the blessing of several local elders, the anonymous group is demanding permanent protection of all BC’s ancient forests, including eight approved cut blocks in the Upper Walbran that have been approved for logging by the Province.”
September 6: “Elder Bill Jones — a guardian of Pacheedaht ancient oldgrowth forests, a voice for the voiceless — is being sued. Not for wrongdoing, but for daring to protect what little remains of the old-growth forests.”
September 12: “Justice Amy Francis has granted an injunction against Elder Bill Jones, Will O’Connel et al to TSAWAK-QIN FORESTRY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP and TSAWAK-QIN FORESTRY INC. Now RCMP can enforce the injunction and make arrests of land defenders protecting the Walbran Valley at Cougar Camp.”
September 15: “We are preparing for battle. Enforcement can happen at any time at the Upper Walbran’ Cougar Camp, so that Western Forest Products can begin clear cutting some of the last old growth forest on Vancouver Island.”
September 17: “RCMP did NOT begin enforcement at camp today. They circled camp with a helicopter, but the convoy of police cars was headed to another location.”
September 29: “COUGER CAMP WEEK 5 RECAP With no sign of loggers, land defenders, have been taking the time to rainproof camp and explore the cut blocks that Western Forest Products wants to clear cut in the upper Walbran.”
November 5: “Early Monday morning land defenders peacefully blocked active old growth logging on Edinburgh Mountain, where Teal Jones has been cutting old growth forest containing trees up to 1000 years old.”
November 25: “SOS – COME TO CAMP RCMP are at Cougar Camp. They have arrived in full force and have disabled communications. Now is the time to get in your car and start driving. The more people who are there during enforcement, the safer everyone will be. If you can’t come to camp, call David Eby right now and tell him to stop sending RCMP to arrest land defenders.”
Additional reading
Article by Brandi Morin.
News coverage of this also includes: 4 arrested, cougar sculpture dismantled as RCMP move in on forestry protest camp on Vancouver Island (CBC News, November 25); Police clear protesters from Vancouver Island logging blockade (Canadian Press, November 25); Protesters return to Upper Walbran logging blockade after arrests (Times Colonist, November 26); Police clear Vancouver Island protest camp, forestry activities to resume (CBC News, November 27).