Jason Wilson — aka Shunka Wakan — is hanging up his monkey wrench and hammer. Or, his website, anyway. Said the long-time, heart-on-his-sleeve, softspoken Earth First! activist in his e-mailed newsletter this week:
This will be the final e-mail from North Coast Earth First! Media. After 13 years of activism, under the banner of “North Coast Earth First!,” it’s finally time to lay it to rest. My journey began in September of 1998, and my first action with Earth First! was the day that David “Gypsy” Chain was killed. After a very active decade, and a relatively quiet past 3 years, it’s finally time for me to move on.
The final newsletter contains two memorials: One for Chain, and one for Wakan’s mother, called “Mama Joy Belle,” who died three years ago Sept. 25. In the memorial for his mom, Wakan wrote:
Like most moms, she was initially very worried about my involvement with North Coast Earth First! Since I was facing potential involuntary manslaughter charges, in association with the death of David “Gypsy” Chain, her concern was well-warranted. She was well-aware of the corporate power structure, and warned me that “these are dangerous people you’re dealing with.”
Wakan fell out with some local activists also identifying with Earth First!, and their rift came to a head in 2007 after Wakan and a donor battled with the Trees Foundation over rights to a large donation.
The tone of his resignation is part weary: “We’ve been getting donated website hosting for the past several month, yet I just noticed that the website is down and have been unable to contact the administrator.” Plus, he adds, there’s not a lot going in Humboldt right now except for the court-malingering Richardson Grove.
And part defiant: “I will always be an activist at heart, and will continue to do all I can do to make the world a better place, as long as I still have breath.”
Keep in touch, friends, says Shunka: E-mail: shunka_2004@yahoo.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shunka.wakan1.
This article appears in Oh, Sister!.
Jason aka Shunka Wakan and I had a little go around about the ethics of enviros deliberately provoking loggers by invading their work space as a gang of trespassing activists with a long record of opposing these worker’s type of work. This action was something no one in their right mind does and David Chain paid the price of EF! idiocy. Shunka wanted to use David’s death for rallying more support for EF! demonstrations and frankly, that too, I found a little sick in the head.
In some heated emails between us where I had mentioned my long involvement with local Native Americans who sided with loggers mainly many being ones themselves. Shunka bragged how he was given his Lakota name and that too I found offensive as I knew some Lakota leaders and knew they wouldn’t like what Shunka has done with that name he’s taken. In fact, one of the signators to the Lakota’s Declaration against theft of sacred ceremonies, Alfred Boneshirt appointed me to check out Shunka to see if he was actually doing Lakota sweat ceremonies, something not allowed wasichi or any people outside the tribes given the ceremonies in the first place. I did check through the State Park ranger in the park where EF! hung out and he couldn’t find any sign of sweat lodge activity. Boneshirt asked me to look for eagle feathers on Shunka, another violation and a criminal one of theft of NA religion.
All in all, Shunka’s activity here wasn’t the best and unlike other EF!’s fame junkies he failed to make the media, including this paper, his friend.
Shunka, Godspeed, Goddess bless. Your time in Humboldt was well spent.
Right on the mark Steven. He’s always been more about himself and how a crisis can benefit him. Time to change his name to Skunk-A-Walkin’
Thanks for all you did in fighting the good fight.
Say Im blind to you fucking HATERS
Cant touch me bullshit creators
Mi say, where is the love lately
Ask yo how the world a run so
Say Im blind to you HATERS
Cant touch me war instigators
Mi say, where is the love lately
Mi say, how the world a run so
I agree with TREEHUGGER…the best thing for Skunk -a Walkin is to leave Humboldt. he would be one less petrulie(sp?) wearing no job having wanna be rasta dude in Humboldt…by the way, get your head out of your asses and open up Richardson Grove! I have to use 3 damn trucks to get my updated equipment thru! Now my costs have gone up and I now have to pass that on to my loyal customers!! bastards!
Relatively quiet past three years? True, but don’t discount the current tree-sits and the fact that they have so far succeeded in defending a grove of residual Old-growth Redwood and mature second growth for the past three years. Disastrous actions may get more media, and we’re happy that our faces are not plastered everywhere, but do not underestimate what is happening in the Green Diamond arena.
Since the tree-sits began, Green Diamond has begun experimenting with logging methods akin to sustainable forestry and said they want to set up a community forest (totally non-commital) that just happens to encompass the grove we are defending.
Steven: It’s not a contest.