May 27, 2023

David Garrick, aka Walrus, was the closest person I ever knew to a modern-day druid.

He lived in the forest amongst giant trees and spent years defending trees, wolves, whales, bears and salmon. He lived harmoniously with the bears that occasional visited and always forgave them if they caused any damage to his camp and garden. He lived close to Dr. Paul Spong and the Orcalab and gave visitors a tour of the forest on Hansen Island.

His work with the First Nation with his discovery of the importance of culturally modified trees helped to establish evidence of land claims. 

He was a collector of coins, stamps and comic books.

A prolific writer and an esteemed archaeologist.

Walrus and I both wrote for the Georgia Strait newspaper in the seventies and eighties. Walrus on Native issues and environmental issues, myself on environmental issues, and we worked alongside music critic, later rock star Bob Geldof. Richard Katz also worked with us at the Straight.

Walrus crewed on the Greenpeace whale campaign voyages in 1975, 1976 and 1977 and he and I led the Greenpeace baby seal campaigns in 1976 and 1977.

The reason that Walrus could not come to the USA was for his conviction for protesting the Trident Missile base in Bangor, Washington. We were both arrested there, but I was found not guilty and he fortunately, was found guilty. The difference being Walrus entered the base by land and I entered by sea and it was a complex jurisdictional issue. Walrus never had any regrets about his actions. He did what his conscience advised him to do: to oppose nuclear weapons. 

My fondest memory of Walrus was when we both journeyed to South Dakota in 1973 to support the American Indian Movement occupation of Wounded Knee. We were both given the honour of citizenship with the Independent Oglala Nation of Wounded Knee. I was given the name of Grey Wolf Clearwater and Walrus was given the name of Two Deer Lone Eagle. Walrus worked with Black Elk and I served as a medic with Crow Dog’s team.

Over the last decade, although I was not able to visit Canada and he could not visit the USA, we kept in touch by phone. He was not a big supporter of the Internet and preferred to write and to speak directly. I don’t think he ever had an email address or a Facebook or Twitter account.

He kept in touch with many of his former crew mates like Rex Weyler, Rod Marining and Paul Spong , and I think I can truthfully say that I don’t recall anyone from the former Greenpeace days who ever had a dislike, an argument, a complaint or an issue with him. He got along with everyone. In the just recently published book, Mr. Mindbomb, about Greenpeace founder Bob Hunter, Walrus wrote a wonderful tribute.

He was modern day and non-fictional Gandalf, a man of purpose and conviction, kind and gentle, wise and thoughtful. He will be missed by every person who ever knew him.