The BC Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Scott Fraser, has issued a statement in regards to protesters occupying the parliament building in Victoria.
His statement comes the day after Indigenous youth occupied his office in the BC Legislature when a meeting between the two sides turned sour.
Once the meeting had adjourned, five Indigenous youth locked themselves into Fraser’s office until the Victoria Police Department stepped in and arrested them on the grounds of mischief.
“To have a respectful discussion for a short period of time to try and de-escalate and allow space for the Wet’suwet’en people was the intent.” Fraser told media this morning. “I might have done something differently, had I known it was going to lead to what happened last night with the arrests.”
Land defenders in support of the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs have been occupying the front steps at the BC Legislature for nearly two weeks, but this is the first time the protests moved into one of the BC Legislature offices.
According to Fraser, there was no indication during the meeting that things would take a turn, as he felt that despite some dependencies during their conversation, the meeting ended respectfully.
“I believed that while we did degree on some issues that we made some progress and I might have been wrong.”
In talking with protesters out front of the building following the meeting, their reasoning for an ‘ineffective’ meeting was because Fraser wouldn’t condemn the Coastal Gaslink pipeline project.
“We asked if he would stand with us to ensure that man camps that are directly related to violence against our woman would be evicted off our territories and he said no…so no the meetings did not go well.” Gina Mowatt told CHEK News.
Upon completion of the meeting, the Minister of Indigenous Relations gave the group a moment to think by leaving the room at their request.
“When the meeting was over, I left the room, they asked for a few minutes to compose themselves before they went out to the crowd out front and that seemed reasonable to me, so I left at that point in time,” said Fraser. “I guess that’s not what they were planning when they asked for those few minutes.”
In talking with protesters out front the building following the meeting, their reasoning for an ‘ineffective’ meeting was because Fraser wouldn’t condemn the Coastal Gaslink pipeline project.
“We asked if he would stand with us to ensure that man camps that are directly related to violence against our woman would be evicted off our territories and he said no…so no the meetings did not go well.” Gina Mowatt told CHEK News.
B.C. Green Party interim leader Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich-North and the Islands and a member of Tsartlip First Nation, was invited by Fraser to witness the conversation. He issued a statement late Thursday morning.
“The youth were articulate and eloquent in sharing their lived experience as Indigenous people living in modern Canada, and in expressing their strong concerns regarding the Coastal GasLink conflict within the Wet’suwet’en territory,” Olsen said in the statement.
“This was a good faith dialogue, and I appreciated the Minister’s invitation to be a witness to the conversation. It was understood by all parties that there was a commitment to leave upon the conclusion of the meeting. I am disappointed that the Indigenous youth representatives chose to disregard their commitment that allowed this dialogue to take place. My hope remains for us to all come together, learn from each other, and continue to sit around the table. It will take time and more dialogue to address the systemic issues created by the Indian Act. This is about more than one pipeline; it’s about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the importance of consultation, the protection of our lands, and recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples.”
As of early Thursday afternoon, Indigenous Youth at the Legislature are packing up the tents and are holding a ceremony on the lawn.
Indigenous Youth at the Leg alluding to (won't answer specifically) leaving the @BCLegislature. Everything looks packed up, and they are now holding a ceremony on the lawn. #bcpoli @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/yqKnLyPt3A
— Mary Griffin (@Mary_Griffin_) March 5, 2020
CHEK News
