Instagram photo: Logan Staats at the Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek Blockade.
The Nanaimo Bulletin reports: “Four more people were arrested on Dec. 8 for allegedly breaching the court-ordered injunction at a blockade near a forestry operation in the Carmanah Valley, near Lake Cowichan.”
Their court appearances will be in January 2026.
The APTN video report on the arrests can be seen here.
One of those arrested was Mohawk land defender and musician Logan Staats from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario. An APTN interview with Staats at the land defence gathering on December 6 can be seen here.
Video still: Fairy Creek video of arrest.
Yesterday, his sister Lyla Staats posted on social media: “My brother was violently arrested by racially fuelled RCMP in BC defending some of the oldest trees left on Turtle Island. These trees are set to be chopped, killed, and sold off to China. This is #kkkanada. Follow and donate to @fairycreekblockade and don’t just watch from your warm cozy life.”
She has also posted this request for support.
The arrests on December 8 reportedly brings the total number of people arrested at blockades on the forestry roads to eleven. The Nanaimo Bulletin notes: “Eight for breaching the injunction, one for criminal mischief, one for criminal obstruction of police for resisting arrest and one for breaching their release conditions.”
Environmental defender Will O’Connell says: “This fight is far from over. The old growth trees in this area are considered to the best of what’s left and once they fall, you can’t put them back up again so we’re trying our best to make sure they keep standing. The province had promised to protect B.C.’s old-growth forests and put on hold cutting them down, but that’s a broken promise.”
An RCMP statement says: “The police will continue patrolling the Walbran Forest Service Road in the coming days to ensure unimpeded access.”
RCMP unit under investigation
The RCMP has noted that the operations on the Walbran Forest Service Road have involved the Critical Response Unit – British Columbia (CRU-BC). This is the new name for the Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG).
On March 9, 2023, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) launched a systemic investigation into the C-IRG. That investigation includes C-IRG activities related to “the Teal Cedar Products Ltd injunction in the Fairy Creek watershed.”
The systemic investigation was launched after the CRCC received nearly 500 formal complaints about the C-IRG in British Columbia. CBC News reported at the time: “More than 100 grievances accepted for investigation contain allegations of excessive force, illegal tactics, unprofessional behaviour, racism, discrimination and charter violations by the force’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG).”
Notably, the CRCC has been without a chairperson since January 2025 meaning it is unable to issue any decisions. It is the responsibility of the federal Minister of Public Safety to appoint a new chairperson.
We continue to follow this.
Further reading: Canadian police raid Cougar Camp on Pacheedaht territory, arrest land defenders, dismantle and burn camp (PBI-Canada article, November 29, 2025).
