Initial talks between the Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n hereditary chiefs and ministers from the provincial and federal governments have wrapped up for the day with plans to continue tomorrow.

Speaking to reporters outside the Office of the Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n in Smithers, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and B.C. Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser said the mood in the room was positive and they鈥檙e optimistic about heading into Friday鈥檚 discussions.

Neither minister would comment on the groundwork laid today with the hereditary chiefs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not appropriate to talk about,鈥� Fraser said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to jeopardize anything. We had a productive day today and hopefully a very solid day tomorrow.鈥�

Hereditary chief Na鈥檓oks, who鈥檚 taken on the role of spokesperson for the chiefs, did not comment to the press.

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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鈥檚uwet鈥檈n traditional lands.

Na鈥檓oks said earlier today it鈥檚 still premature to speculate when the blockades will end.

鈥淢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.鈥�

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Earlier today the RCMP announced they will cease patrols of the Morice West Service Road during the talks. 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.

More to come.