The Wet害羞草研究所檚uwet害羞草研究所檈n hereditary chiefs are optimistic ahead of talks today with the federal and provincial governments over the construction of a natural gas pipeline running through their traditional territory.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 quite positive. Ultimately we have to improve the relationship with Indigenous people and each of the provinces in Canada, as well as Canada itself. That害羞草研究所檚 the goal,害羞草研究所� said hereditary chief Na害羞草研究所檓oks (John Ridsdale).
The meeting comes amid continuing protests and road and rail blockades across the country, including at the B.C. Legislature this week. The protests have been ongoing since early February in opposition to the Coastal GasLink (CGL), a 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline being built through Wet害羞草研究所檚uwet害羞草研究所檈n traditional lands.
Na害羞草研究所檓oks said it害羞草研究所檚 still premature to speculate when the blockades will end.
害羞草研究所淢ost of them [supporters] are awaiting us to request it. If they see progress then things will quickly deescalate. We just ask that things remain peaceful.害羞草研究所�
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The talks were briefly canceled after a misscomunication last night but rescheduled within hours. Na害羞草研究所檓oks said he will have questions over the cause of that blunder.
Attending the talks in Smithers today will be Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and her provincial counterpart, B.C. Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser.
All five Wet害羞草研究所檚uwet害羞草研究所檈n hereditary chiefs disputing the pipeline construction will be in attendance but Na害羞草研究所檓oks said they expect only to 害羞草研究所渟et the stage害羞草研究所� today for meetings anticipated to continue all day Friday.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not going to be up here burning the midnight oil when they should have been here long before,害羞草研究所� Na害羞草研究所檓oks said. 害羞草研究所淭hey should have done this in 1997 when we finished the Delgamuukw court case. They just put it on the shelf and look at the position we害羞草研究所檙e in now.害羞草研究所�
Earlier today the RCMP announced they will cease patrols of the Morice West Service Road during the talks.
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CGL also announced a two-day pause on pre-construction of the pipeline in the Morice River area.
These two conditions were critical for the hereditary chiefs to begin talks with the provincial and federal governments.
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