Old-growth logging protester sentenced to 60 days of jail

Davidson (pictured) was convicted of seven counts of criminal contempt of court on January 18 for participation in the Fairy Creek blockades of 2021 and 2022. Photo: Ada'itsx/Fairy Creek Blockade / Facebook.

An anti-old-growth logging protestor and activist has been sentenced on Wednesday, April 24 for her role in blockades at Fairy Creek.

Angela Davidson, also known as Rainbow Eyes has been sentenced to 60 days incarceration, reduced by 12 days time served. This comes after she was convicted of seven counts of criminal contempt of court on January 18 for participation in the Fairy Creek blockades of 2021 and 2022.

During her sentencing hearing on April 4, Davidson's lawyer called for her sentence to be time served with 12 months probation including 75 hours of community service, while the Crown called for 51 days in custody along with 75 hours of community service or a fine of $2,500.

Davidson lives in Campbell River and is a member of the Da’naxda’xw First Nation as well as an elected member of the Da’naxda’xw First Nation Band Council. She is also one of two deputy leaders for the Green Party of Canada.

The Green Party of Canada released a statement following the sentencing about Davidson's sentence saying the party is committed to peaceful protest and ecological justice and will continue in their support for her. 

After the sentencing, CHLY spoke with supporters of Davidson outside the court.

Grandma Losah, an elder from the Tla'amin nation has also been at the blockades with Davidson. She said Davidson has been one of the strongest advocates for protecting the Fairy Creek watershed.

“As an elder, this is really important that, you know, we show our support for one another, and that's exactly what I've done,” said Grandma Losah.

Grandma Losah said she wants people to realize that their actions benefit everyone.

“That these actions are for the entire community, not just the indigenous, not just land defenders, people benefit from the work that we do,” she said. “That beneficial thing includes being able to breathe fresh air, being able to eat wild salmon to being able to get traditional medicines.”

She said the crimes Davidson has committed were humanitarian.

“Angie is just a beautiful, you know, warrior woman, who, for the last two and a half years has been fighting for Fairy Creek,” Grandma Losah said. “She's been fighting for the protection of the old growth.”

Davidson’s parents Liz and Dave Davidson were emotional outside the courthouse after hearing their daughter's sentencing.

Liz said they are 100 per cent supportive of their daughter and everything she believes in, and disagree with the results of the sentencing.

Dave said Davidson had done nothing wrong but try to protect Mother Nature. 

“We feel that will stand behind her no matter what she does, of course, but this it's kind of farce, that somebody that believes so wholeheartedly,” Dave said. “Somebody is the poster child for remediation and bringing civilizations together, whatever this is the one and to penalize her for that and for making doing her putting in her efforts is a crime in itself.” 

As time goes on, Liz said people may start realizing the treatment Davidson has received for her activism was wrong.

“The thing that popped into my head when I was sitting in court is my grandfather went to jail for participating in a potlatch because potlaching was outlawed,” Liz said. “You know, they think they're doing the right thing in court today, we'll see how it is in 50 years, how they look at what they've done to her.”

Liz said she knows this is just the beginning of her daughter’s activism and that she will continue fighting for the protection of the environment.

Dave said Davidson will find new ways to fight.

“She won't ever go to jail for this again, because she will fight it on a different level because she won't want to go back in there,” Dave said. “But there are all kinds of levels, she'll find her place.”

Supporters wore ceramic heart necklaces painted with rainbow streaks in solidarity of Rainbow Eyes. The potter behind the hearts goes by the camp name “Cookie.” She said she and several other women from Fairy Creek made the hearts to honour Davidson and to fundraise for court fees.

Cookie said the court sentencing is just one part of the fight to protect the environment. 

“We're not going to give up. We're not going to give up. We're all from Fairy Creek, we're not going to give up. It's not over,” Cookie said. “We'll keep fighting. Our lives depend on it.”

In her sentencing, Davison also received 75 hours of community work service through the Campbell River Community Corrections office.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.