The federal Green Party’s leadership team is expanding with the reappointment of an old-growth forest defender as another deputy leader.
"We are immensely pleased and honoured that Rainbow Eyes, currently standing convicted of criminal contempt for her defence of the old-growth forest of Fairy Creek, has accepted a senior role within the Green Party of Canada,” said deputy leader Jonathan Pedneault. “As they await sentencing, we, as Greens, couldn't be prouder of Rainbow Eyes for her personal courage, integrity and deep allegiance to our living world.”
In a press release, the Greens said that as the party works toward officially adopting a co-leadership model, it will keep in place the two existing deputy leader positions. The Green Party said Rainbow Eyes, who is also known as Angela Davidson, will work with Pedneault and leader Elizabeth May to build and strengthen relationships with other parties, organizations and individuals.
“I am so honoured and overjoyed to stand alongside Elizabeth and Jonathan, who I so deeply respect," said Rainbow Eyes in a statement. “I embrace this position with Spirit and a burning belief in our ability to make a positive impact now.
“As a Guardian and Protector of Mother Earth, I proudly carry the legacy of my Ancestors and honour the heart of Indigenous culture and way of life.”
Rainbow Eyes, a member of the Da'naxda'xw-Awaetlala First Nation near Knight Inlet on Vancouver Island, is a longtime member of the party’s Indigenous Peoples Advisory Circle and previously served as deputy to former interim leader Amita Kuttner.
May said Rainbow Eyes brings a wealth of experience to the role, and “her dedication to defending the natural world aligns perfectly with the values of the Green Party.”
Last month, she was convicted of criminal contempt by a B.C. court for breaking a court-ordered injunction and bail conditions related to protests against old-growth logging at Fairy Creek on Vancouver Island.
In 2021, she gave an interview to Canada’s National Observer where she said it is her responsibility to defend the Fairy Creek watershed from resource extraction, pointing to the rich biodiversity.
“This is not land I recognize as belonging to the Crown,” she said. “It certainly does not belong to Teal-Jones (the company logging in the Fairy Creek area).
“Ten years ago, I got cancer. It focused my mind and clarified my priorities,” she said. “Fairy Creek is not my traditional territory, but for decades, Indigenous people all over the island have been asking that old-growth logging stop. When I heard elder Bill Jones’ invitation, I had to respond.
“This is where the line gets drawn, and my body is on it.”
— With files from Patricia Lane
- John Woodside
- Senior Ottawa Reporter
- @Woodsideful
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"I no longer wish to be part
"I no longer wish to be part of an organization that alleges to “care for BC’s forest and forest lands,” while remaining silent about the degradation and frequent destruction of natural forest integrity and resilience perpetrated by the vast majority of forestry activities," says Herb Hammond.
"The announcement consisted of a slate of deferrals Premier John Horgan promised would “fundamentally transform the way we manage our old-growth forests, lands and resources.” These deferrals were made, Horgan said, following recommendations from a 2021 report by the Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel.
Behind the scenes, however, the province’s top forestry executives had actually been trying to block some of the panel’s findings."
When the advisory panel publicly released their findings in November 2021, they unveiled a critical number: how much old growth naturally existed in the province before industrial forestry — 25 million hectares. Of that, they found that only 11 million hectares remained.
But an email exchange The Tyee uncovered through a freedom of information request shows B.C.’s then-chief forester, Diane Nicholls, didn’t want the historic number published.
“The timeline is prior to climate change and a long time ago,” she said, adding in another email that the figure was not realistic.
Then she planted a seed for its removal: “Is there any way not to use it?” - The Tyee
You can’t build trust without being transparent and accountable". - BC GREEN CAUCUS.
Vote Green, the only party not captured by industry, in Canada. A vote for anyone else is a vote for dirty energy and empty deforested land.
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