Photo: Rainbow Eyes outside the Nanaimo courthouse with supporters just prior to sentencing on April 24. Photo by Jordan Davidson/Nanaimo News NOW.
Da’naxda’xw-Awaetlala land defender Rainbow Eyes sentenced to 60 days in jail
Published by Brent Patterson on April 26, 2024
By Peace Brigades International, Canada
Da’naxda’xw-Awaetlala land defender Angela Davidson, also known as Rainbow Eyes, was sentenced this week to 60 days in jail for her participation in the peaceful blockades against Teal Cedar logging on the Fairy Creek watershed on Pacheedaht territory on Vancouver Island on seven occasions in 2021 and 2022.
CBC reports: “Angela Davidson, also known as Rainbow Eyes, received 60 days of jail time, after being convicted of seven counts of criminal contempt earlier this year, though she received credit for 12 days of time already served in pretrial detention.”
That CBC article adds: “Davidson, who is of the Da’naxda’xw First Nation and a deputy leader of the federal Green Party, was also ordered to do 75 hours of community service for her role in the protests.”
During her trial this past January, Kwakwaka’wakw Hereditary Chief Walas Namugwis described Davidson’s obligations as being those of a people “groomed to be land defenders,” “to look after mother nature, to care and nurture and not be greedy.”
The Times Colonist notes: “Defence lawyer Ben Isitt asked for any more jail time to be suspended, suggesting a 13-day sentence that would have been negated by time already served.”
Biased injunctions
The Chilliwack Progress further reports: “An injunction had been ordered prohibiting people from obstructing or interfering with anyone accessing the logging road from April 1 to Sept. 26, 2021. Davidson had violated the injunction numerous times including chaining herself to a gate, climbing on top of a grader and dropping food off at a roadside camp, according to the judge. She was arrested and given curfew during that time.”
Green Party leader Elizabeth May has stated: “Injunctions are used to convert the justice and policing systems of the state into private cops to protect corporate profits over the public interest. This has to stop.”
The Canadian Press has reported: “[An October 2019] study of over 100 injunctions published by the Yellowhead Institute … found 76 per cent of injunctions filed by corporations against First Nations were granted, compared with 19 per cent of injunctions filed by First Nations against corporations.”
After the sentencing, May further commented: “[Rainbow Eyes] was trying, as an Indigenous land defender, to protect what’s left of our old growth forests. She deserves the Order of Canada, not [jail time].”
Impunity for the C-IRG
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) is the controversial unit used against Indigenous land defenders and allies challenging resource extraction projects in this country.
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) is now conducting a systemic investigation of C-IRG activities, including its enforcement of “the Teal Cedar Products Ltd injunction in the Fairy Creek watershed”, after receiving nearly 500 formal complaints that include allegations of excessive force, illegal tactics, unprofessional behaviour, racism, discrimination and Charter violations.
Despite being launched more than a year ago on March 9, 2023, there has been little information on the progress of this investigation and no date has been set for the release of their report.
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