In response to the ongoing protests and blockades by the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) released a special statement last week Friday, encouraging a resolution between all who are involved.

Will Goodon is the MMF’s Minister for Housing & Property Management, as well as a member of the Executive for the MMF’s Southwest Region.

On behalf of the MMF, Goodon shares the message that as a country we all need to work together to resolve the issues.

“There’s not just two sides to this,” he explains.  “It’s not just the Federal Government, or the Provinces, or the development companies on one side and some specific First Nations on another side.  There’s viewpoints from all different perspectives.”

Goodon says when it comes to leadership and governance from the Crown side and leadership and governance from the Indigenous side, there needs to be trust built. Trust has been broken and to see that there is not a positive relationship at this moment it needs to be understandable.”

“But calmer heads need to prevail,” he adds, “and at the same time we need to make sure that the rights of everyone are considered here.  For the people who are losing their jobs, their points of view are absolutely important.  But, for the people who are worried about what might be happening in their back yard, the Indigenous protesters, their points of view need to be considered as well.”

Goodon says reconciliation needs to come from both sides, and although there have been some sincere efforts for discussion, there needs to be sincere efforts from both sides.

“I’m being very careful on how I phrase things, because this is a very pivotal time in our history I think.”