B.C. Court Grants Injunction Against Walbran Valley Logging Blockade

Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership, co-owned by Western Forest Products and the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, has obtained a court injunction to stop protesters from blocking logging roads in the Upper Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island. The blockade, which began on August 25 with protesters erecting a large cougar sculpture, aimed to demand permanent protection of old-growth forests, but the Pacheedaht First Nation and the company argue it unlawfully obstructs access to their logging operations in the First Nation's traditional territory. The injunction, granted by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Amy Francis, prohibits individuals from impeding access to roads and construction sites within the specified area, stating that protestors cannot impose their will by force and that the court cannot question government forestry policy. The Pacheedaht First Nation has publicly requested the protesters to leave, emphasizing that forestry is vital to its economy and that the blockade undermines its authority to manage its lands responsibly. Meanwhile, some protesters, including Pacheedaht elder Bill Jones, oppose the logging and have challenged the First Nation's consent to logging activities, highlighting internal disputes over environmental and cultural stewardship. The legal battle reflects ongoing tensions between economic interests tied to logging and efforts to protect old-growth forests in the region.