Tribute to Nancy by Richard Gienger

I am going to focus on two high impacts she had:  protection of the Sally Bell Grove and the Sinkyone Wilderness Coast;  and the struggle to protect Vista Ridge, a spectacular  old growth Douglas fir grove along the headwaters of the Mattole River.

Nancy was essential connective consciousness for what she sometimes referred to as the “unintentional” community of Whale Gulch and neighboring villages.  Starting the 1970s there was strong sentiment across many communities to protect any old growth and remnant forests, especially ‘reinhabitors/hippies’, witnessing the impacts of ‘total logging’ and massive floods.  Locally this focus was especially strong in resisting the depredations of Georgia-Pacific (G-P), starting in 1975, and their relentless drive to take all remaining merchantable timber, particularly old-growth Redwood between Usal and Bear Harbor.   People appealed to every possible ally and process to stop the destruction – exhausting administrative and legislative remedies (due diligence, due diligence, due diligence;  Timber Harvest Plan by THP,  and trying to stop destruction one after another of archaeological/cultural sites).

In September 1977, G-P put in their plan to take all timber out of Little Jackass Creek canyon. [Lots of details for another time:  Cal Parks and Rec combining the Bear Harbor and Usal projects (also in September 1977 in Fort Bragg) that would become the current Sinkyone State Wilderness, InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness, and Sinkyone Wilderness State Park].  The California Department of Forestry backed G-P down to do the cutting in stages.

After continuing protracted struggle came the proverbial last straw: G-P came back in 1983 for the remaining Old-Growth in the Little Jackass Creek watershed, which almost immediately, became known as the Sally Bell Grove watershed, because that keystone ridge preserved the Old-Growth presence behind and above the beautiful cove at the base of the canyon and the ancient precious cultural heritage.  Sally Bell was/is a renowned survivor of a massacre in the Needle Rock area that took most of her family.  The clear-cut THP triggered the start of litigation in a Mendocino County Court — what became the precedent setting EPIC v. Johnson Appeal Court decision in 1985 (Environmental Protection Information Center and the International Indian Treaty Council v. California Department of Forestry and G-P.

Cutting to the dire situation:  G-P moving into cut as soon as the THP was approved and no restraining order or stay in place.  Concerned surrounding communities had come together close to Nancy’s home to prepare ahead of that day.  Mike Roselle, fresh from civil defense of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in Oregon came to help get affinity groups together.  He and other veterans of the struggles against herbicides and nuclear power plants got deep into non-violent resistance.  And the morning of that day came:  “They are cutting, they are cutting.”  Several waves of civil defense ensued.  Some trees had been cut, but operations were stopped on the first day the civil defenders showed up – but in the time between the adverse ruling of the local court and action by the appeals court was taken it got out of hand.  G-P fallers were trying to cut as much and as fast as they could.  Mem Hill was caught under a Tan Oak tree toppled by an Old Growth Redwood.  Seven women were arrested and taken to jail in Ukiah.  And then the Appeals Court Stay of Operation came through, but took awhile for the sheriffs to assure enforcement throughout the Grove..  Anxiety, anxiety – how are the women doing – no worry, the contagious and joyful laughter of Nancy Peregrine spread through the jail – a true expression of inspiring indomitable spirit.

Nancy displayed the same fortitude and responsibility in defense of the Old Growth fir grove on Vista Ridge – watching out for forest defenders and keeping close constant radio contact to relay a court ordered stop of operations as soon as it happened.  And she did.  Law enforcement typically took some time to get their own verification.  Unfortunately the Grove was later cut, but through  multiple efforts of Sanctuary Forest and funding from the State of California and support from others Vista Ridge is permanently protected and a key part of the extensive area protected and conserved in the salmonid refugia and precious Old Growth groves and stands  of the Mattole River Headwaters.  Nancy was there – allatime.