On January 14th, 2020 the BC Federation of Labour called on the RCMP to step back and allow for government to government dialogue to address the concerns raised by Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, in an effort to find mutual solutions to the complex issues constituting this dispute.
Since that time the RCMP did indeed step back, which allowed for government-to-government relations to attempt renewed discussion and negotiation, including formal discussions mediated by Nathan Cullen between Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and the Province.
Unfortunately, those discussions broke off and renewed RCMP action to enforce Coastal Gas Link’s court injunction have ensued, resulting in multiple new arrests on Wet’suwet’en lands and increased confrontation.
Despite the inability of recent discussions to resolve outstanding issues, the BC Federation of Labour continues to support a negotiated settlement to this dispute and urgently calls for renewed negotiations to find a mutual solution in the spirit of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.