Anarchist Network of “Vancouver Island” #1

Operating on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen, W̱SÁNEĆ and Coast Salish Peoples.

We are a collective of settlers and Indigenous Peoples on Lekwungen, W̱SÁNEĆ and Coast Salish territories, wishing to decolonize and unlearn what we have been indoctrinated into by mainstream Western culture.

We wish to re-learn joy, connection, and wonder towards each other and our natural environment while dismantling colonialism, capitalism, and authoritarianism.

Towards also reminds us that both decolonization and reconnecting with the land are ongoing processes, not definitive end goals.

What are your goals?

We seek to build voluntary, autonomous societies that centre balance between human activity and ecology built off of cooperation, self-management, mutual aid, and reciprocal economies.

Anarchy is not chaos, but decentralized community care. Although we work towards an anarchy that suits our conditions, it is also a model that is not framed in Eurocentrism: we move past the sole ideology of the worker.

We believe the climate crisis is not only a crisis of industry, but also that of imagination, and that decolonization and restoring relationships with indigenous people is a crucial step in restoring sustainable environments and harmony.

“The law is a chariot wheel which binds us all regardless of conditions or place or time. Anarchism, then, really stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government.” — Emma Goldman

So, you’re socialists?

While anarchism intersects and shares some history with socialism, we oppose state ‘socialist’ current and previous regimes in Russia, China, and other police states — the system in those countries was/is no more than another form of state-capitalist oppression.

We oppose the colonial State of Canada; a coercive institution built off slavery and genocide. We do not wish to pull its levers of power, but rather usher in its demise.

We stand for a new society where there will be no bosses or bureaucrats. A society that will be run in a truly democratic way by all people, through collective villages and communes. We seek to abolish authoritarian relationships and hierarchies to replace them with control from the bottom up — not the top down.

What are you up to?

Originally, we have been unofficially involved in the “Fairy Creek Blockade”, direct action old growth logging protests in Ada’itsx “Port Renfew, BC”.

However, we continue to support many different causes in struggles regarding exploitation and injustice: namely imperialism, racism, unaffordable housing, the toxic drug supply crisis, and the climate crisis, through organizing and supporting community events through our network so that we may find each other.

Currently we regularly host and share other events, networking both protests and mutual aid projects, occurring on the Island with each other and the public.

How can I participate?

We are always looking to build relationships and dual power networks with folks that seek anarchistic, post-civilized and decolonized ways of being, or, are interested and operate in good faith!

If you want to make important changes improving human and non-human lives, participate in exciting projects and the struggle for life, this could be the collective for you!

Reach out to us on Instagram! @anarchistnetworkvi