Initial talks between the Wetsa国际传媒檚uwetsa国际传媒檈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 Wetsa国际传媒檚uwetsa国际传媒檈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 theysa国际传媒檙e optimistic about heading into Fridaysa国际传媒檚 discussions.

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

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not appropriate to talk about,sa国际传媒� Fraser said. sa国际传媒淲e donsa国际传媒檛 want to jeopardize anything. We had a productive day today and hopefully a very solid day tomorrow.sa国际传媒�

Hereditary chief Nasa国际传媒檓oks, whosa国际传媒檚 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 Wetsa国际传媒檚uwetsa国际传媒檈n traditional lands.

Nasa国际传媒檓oks said earlier today itsa国际传媒檚 still premature to speculate when the blockades will end.

sa国际传媒淢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.sa国际传媒�

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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.