More than 40 riot police carried out dawn raids on Heirisson Island on Thursday morning to dismantle an Aboriginal activists' camp.

In a military-style operation, officers flanked by City of Perth rangers swept the camp site, taking down tents, dumping mattresses and belongings into bins in an attempt to move on protestors who had set up camp in response to the WA Government's plans to close remote communities in the state's north-west.

Peta Garlett was dragged from the scene by officers as police made just the one arrest as officers allowed other protestors to gather up their belongings and move off the island.