Oral history interview with Irene Abbey Day 1 (audio recording and transcript)
Irene talks in detail about the various forms of activism and campaigns she had been involved in over many years. She discusses how she decided to get arrested at Clayoquot Sound, including the journey to the camp and the arrest itself. She talks about her upbringing, marriage and children, and in particular her life-long love of learning. She is worried about the world and discusses her distrust of big corporations and capitalism. To her, education, volunteering and activism are essential components and responsibilities for ensuring a safe and healthy environment for future generations.
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Oral history interview with Kim Back (audio recording and transcript)
Kim describes in detail her decision to get arrested Clayoquot Sound along with other Denman Islanders. She discusses her fears in the camp the night before the arrest, the processes of getting arrested and processed, the subsequent trial and sentencing, and what it was like being placed under house arrest. The experienced has left her drained.
Oral history interview with Linda Bassingthwaite (audio recording and transcript)
Linda describes her experience of getting arrested at Kennedy Bridge in 1993, and the judicial process that occurred after her arrest, including the court proceedings and her experience of house-arrest. She also talks about her life history and the different types of activism she was involved in both before and after her arrest at Clayoquot Sound.
Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada
Oral history interview with Jan Bate (audio recording and transcript)
Jan describes how her interest in feminism and environmentalism led to her involvement with the Friends of Clayoquot, where she worked in many roles over the years. She discusses some of the decisions she made as a Director of the Friends, such as labour and safety at the camp, and also talks in depth about the activist burn-out she experienced, especially during the Commonwealth Games camp in 1994, where gender tensions were rife. She also sheds interesting light on relations between the Friends of Clayoquot and the First Nations, and her experiences of working as a white woman with First Nations men.
Oral history interview with Louise Bell (audio recording and transcript)
Louise describes how she became interested and involved with the campaign at Clayoquot Sound, and her subsequent arrest, trial and sentencing. At times she is critical of her experience in the camp. She also discusses her life story, her upbringing and relationships, the difficulties of working as a woman in science, and other activism she has been and is involved with.
Oral history interview with Greg Browne (audio recording and transcript)
Greg talks about his involvement with the peace-camp as a frequent visitor, tensions at the camp and running his Bed & Breakfast near Clayoquot Sound. He speaks about the friendships that were fostered at camp. He is saddened by the lack of changes in clear-cutting after the ’93 campaign, and subsequent campaigns and peace-camps, and thinks a more disruptive action might have been more impactful. He discusses his health issues following an accident, environmentalism and sustainability.
Oral history interview with Jane Fawkes (audio recording and transcript)
In this interview Jane discusses her involvement with the Clayoquot Sound peace camp. She shares why she chose to get arrested and describes her experience with the court system: the decision to defend herself, the work that went into preparing for trial, and the process of sentencing. Jane also discusses her connection to the environment and to feminism and shares how she came to find environmentalism. She also discusses life after Clayoquot.
Oral history interview with Fireweed (audio recording and transcript)
Fireweed talks about her artwork and how this led to her interest in spirituality, environmentalism and ecofeminism. She talks about her daily life at the camp and gives an account of a traumatic experience that led to her leaving the camp, touching on gender politics and tensions within the camp, and activist burn-out more generally.
Oral history interview with Jacinta French (audio recording and transcript)
In this interview, Jacinta shares the names of colleagues connected to the Clayoquot Sound peace camp, and describes their work. She talks about her time working for the Friends of Clayoquot Sound and the campaign and provides an overview of the actions she helped organise in Vancouver to support the peace camp. Jacinta describes her life before, during and after Clayoquot, and shares how she became politically active. She also discusses her decision to get arrested at the camp and shares her views on environmentalism and spirituality.
Oral history interview with Atty Gell (audio recording and transcript)
Atty talks about daily life at the camp and her reasons for joining the campaign at Clayoquot Sound. She reflects on the tensions in the camp, especially in relation to gender issues, and her strong feelings towards wilderness and mother earth. She further discusses her arrest and the subsequent trial and sentencing.
Oral history interview with Jay Hamburger (audio recording and transcript)
In discussing his biography, Jay talks about his involvement with other types of activism and how this led to his and his wife, Atty’s, engagement with the Clayoquot Sound blockade. He talks about his first impressions on arrival at the camp, from food to rules to his reaction to the ecofeminist principles underpinning the camp organisation. He talks about the all women/children arrest, and the reaction of men in the camp to this organisation. Jay also goes into some detail discussing his arrest and his views on how the judicial system treated the activists.
Oral history interview with Dana Kagis (audio recording and transcript)
Dana discusses early days at the camp and daily life there, cooking and cleaning and becoming involved in peacekeeping training and with the Friends of Clayoquot. She talks about how the camp changed over the summer and the differences between the Walbran and the Clayoquot peace camp. Dana talks about tensions at camp, about safety and about consensus building. She also describes camp culture and subcultures, talks about her experience getting arrested, and reflects on court procedures and the importance of having role models.
Oral history interview with Kami Kanetuska (audio recording and transcript)
In this interview, Kami describes getting involved in activism at Clayoquot, and initially travelling to the camp. She talks about her experience working as a freelance writer, shares her thoughts on the international support Clayoquot received, and highlights tensions between 'local' and 'global' activism. Kami describes the peace camp as pleasant and well organised, and comments on her experience at Greenham Common. She shares why she decided not to get arrested, and how she supported those that did, and also shares her views on feminism and ecofeminism.
Oral history interview with Betty Krawczyk (audio recording and transcript)
In this interview, Betty discusses how she first heard about Clayoquot Sound and the peace camp, why she chose to get arrested and the time she spent in jail. She describes growing up in Louisiana and her family life. She talks about her children and husbands, sharing how she became involved with the women's movement. Betty also describes her work and activism for women?s equality and environmental rights and shares her views on feminism, how she came to learn about it and what it means to her.
Oral history interview with Valerie Langer (partial audio recording and transcript)
In this interview, Valerie discusses her work in environmental activism. She shares how she came to work for the Friends of Clayoquot Sound (FOCS). She describes her role within FOCS as well as the origins of the organisation and its structure. She discusses life and work before, during and after the Clayoquot peace camp, speaking about activist burn out and various tensions within local activism. Valerie also describes how she became involved in activism and shares her views on the relationship between feminism and ecofeminism.
Oral history interview with Miriam Leigh (audio recording and transcript)
In this interview, Miriam talks about her life before, during and after the Clayoquot Sound peace camp. She describes growing up in Virginia, going to university, moving to Vancouver and then to Denman Island. She discusses raising children, activism and motherhood, and her time working with different theatre groups. Miriam shares her relationship with nature and her experience providing training in non-violence through workshops at the Clayoquot peace camp, as well as gender politics at camp. She also describes her work with women?s rights activism in British Columbia.
Oral history interview with Norleen Lillico (audio recording and transcript)
Norleen talks about her involvement with activism at the Walbran, leading up to Clayoquot, and discusses differences between the two actions as well as experience with other blockades and with getting arrested and being in jail, and then on house arrest with electronic monitoring (Clayoquot Arm). Norleen stresses the importance of patience in activism, the role of the media, and the lasting impact of direct actions. She talks about the planning of the peace camp at Clayoquot and the decision to close the camp, camp life, the importance of consensus and accessibility, as well as self-care and activist burn-out.
Oral history interview with Chris Lowther (audio recording and transcript)
Chris discusses her experiences of violence in the family home and how her personal biography influenced her interest in injustices. She also discusses her eventual move to England, where she got involved in Greenham Common and animal rights activism. She discusses her experiences of returning to Canada and her involvement in the Clayoquot blockades, specifically her experiences of the gender politics of the camp and problems with men and drumming. Sexuality is also discussed in her interview, and her feelings about women only spaces.
Oral history interview with Jean McLaren (audio recording and transcript)
Jean discusses her intense involvement with the campaign at Clayoquot Sound and the routines of daily life at the camp. She talks about running non-violence workshops, peaceful action and the importance of feminist principles. She also talks about her life story, her relationships, as well as the various types of activism and campaigns she has been involved with both before and after Clayoquot.
Oral history interview with Mike Morrell (audio recording and transcript)
Mike talks about his experiences of living in the camp at Clayoquot Sound, attributing the camp’s success to its leadership and consensus-based principles. He reflects on feminism, ecofeminism and gender related issues and tensions at the camp. Mike also discusses the tensions and polarisation between loggers and environmentalists, his environmental activism in fishery and life after the Clayoquot campaign.