March 22 – Queen Charlotte

It’s just after 7 am and a friend and I are driving to the dryland sort, where we’ll be joining other friends and neighbours in an all-Islands action on the handling of Haida Gwaii’s forests, and the sale of Weyerhaeuser’s TFL to Brascan. Neither one of us is practiced at navigating roads at this early, half-light hour of the morning, so we’re feeling virtuous about arriving only nine-and-a-half minutes late.

As we near the log sort, we see a large, stark, black-and-white hand-painted sign propped up at the side of the road. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH it says. The words are simple, striking, and their meaning is clear.

Just beyond the sign, two people, bundled up against the morning chill, are standing in the middle of the road, holding up red Council of the Haida Nation flags. They recognize us and wave us through. As we roll closer to the sort, we’re shocked to see that somewhere between 35 to 40 people have beaten us to the site, and suddenly we don’t feel so virtuous any more.

We park the car and join in. It feels good seeing Islanders come together in support of change and in support of each other. There are Chiefs and Elders, youngsters and office workers. There are loggers and activists, homemakers and artists. There are CHN representatives and community representatives, students and healthcare workers. People keep coming and they greet each other. All are welcome. Everyone talks quietly.

The ocean is rippled as two tugboats arrive at the sort, but there are no workers to meet it.

I am told that a strange yellow helicopter has made overhead appearances twice in two days.

The bonfire pops and crackles and the warmth it gives off is cheering. I start asking people how they feel about what they’re doing today. One of our Elders, with a wool blanket wrapped around her shoulders, says she feels wonderful, and that she knitted some toques that were given out to any protester who might need one. She says that today makes her think of Lyell Island, and of Ada Yovanovich, and of how active Ada was.

Another of the Elders is sipping a cup of hot tea she was offered. She explains that she is wide open to anything that happens and will help in any way she can. She then remarks that the white ashes from the fire, which are drifting through the air and landing on people’s blankets and jackets, look like eagle down. And she’s right.

Trucks hauling boulders continue to rumble by. We wonder how things are going with the protest taking place outside Port Clements and hope all is well.

Chief Skidegate stands beside Chief Niis Wes at the edge of the road. Chief Skidegate talks about being on Lyell Island, and says he knows the action being taken today is something that has to be done because enough is enough. “People get pushed so far and then we have to do something. I support this wholeheartedly and am happy to see this good turnout of people.”

A resident of Miller Creek remarks that it’s wonderful to see everyone working together. She believes many people of the Islands have common philosophies and values, and that the array of people at the sort bears this out.

Guujaaw tells me that when reason and diplomacy fail, the spirit rises.