VIDEO: History of the 1993 Clayoquot Sound Logging Protests

The wave of environmental protests to protect the old-growth temperate rainforest in Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island started in 1985 with the blockade on Meares Island by the Tlaoquiaht and Ahousaht First Nations and local conservationists. The protests reached their peak 25 years ago in the summer of 1993 when 12,000 people took part in the blockades by Kennedy Lake, resulting in the arrest of almost 900 people that summer – the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history.

But the job is not done. Clayoquot Sound is still not saved and the large scale industrial logging of old-growth forests continues across large parts of the province. Meanwhile, the vast export of old-growth and second-growth raw logs to foreign mills erodes BC forestry employment opportunities. It’s time for the new NDP government of BC to finally protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests and ensure a value-added, second-growth forest industry.

Watch this video clip about the protests by filmmaker Darryl Augustine, featuring Eli Enns (Tla-o-qui-aht Ha’uukmin Tribal Park Co-Founder, Indigenous Circle of Experts Co-Chair), Maureen Fraser (Friends of Clayoquot Sound Co-founder, former Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce President ), Valerie Langer (former Friends of Clayoquot Sound Campaign Organizer), Vicky Husband (BC Conservationist, former Sierra Club of BC Conservation Chair, Order of Canada Recipient), and Ken Wu (Ancient Forest Alliance Executive Director and Co-Founder).

Thanks to Warren Rudd for providing the historic video footage.

Click here to watch the video on AFA’s YouTube channel.