Fourteen people were arrested earlier this week in protest of the natural-gas pipeline project southwest of Houston, British Columbia, at the Gitdumt'en camp. The First Nations people there erected a blockade to keep workers away from the project check-point. Long Plain First Nation Chief Dennis Meeches weighs in on the controversial arrest. 

"This goes against the reconciliation efforts that are being undertaken by Canada," says Meeches. "In the west coast, those people don't have signed treaties and unceded territories, which pose a problem."

Meeches hopes to see this conflict resolved peacefully. He explains the environment is top of mind in all of their protests. He notes First Nations and First Nations people have taken the lead to ensure the environment remains protected in the wake of a globalizing community around the world.

Meeches explains Chiefs expressed those concerns to Minister of Crown and Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett just yesterday morning. He adds it's unfortunate these events took place. Meeches stresses a better approach could've taken place. He notes generations of policies and legislation have done a lot of harm to Indigenous governments and people.