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Victoria police say the five were arrested at about 9 p.m. Wednesday and each faces a charge of mischief.

Police say there were no injuries in the arrests and they alleged the protesters called for others to surround the legislature building.

They say officers were “actively obstructed” and because of the size of the crowd, it took several hours for the protesters to be safely transported to police headquarters.

On Thursday, dozens of protesters at the B.C. legislature began packing up today after 17 days camped outside the building.

Blaney says the Indigenous youth are leaving the legislature but their movement for the rights of Aboriginal Peoples continues.

In a video Facebook post, one of the protesters said a group had occupied the legislature building after a meeting with Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser.

Fraser’s office, in a statement, said he held the meeting after a request by the Indigenous youth.

“The minister invited a delegation to meet inside the legislature in the Rattenbury Room on condition that they would leave the building following the meeting,” read the statement.

“They agreed to this condition. MLA Adam Olsen attended the meeting as a witness. The discussion lasted an hour and a half, was respectful, and occurred in good faith. After the minister and MLA Olson left, the individuals reneged on their agreement and made it clear that they would not leave the building as agreed. We are disappointed they have not honoured their commitment, and regretfully, this is now a security matter being handled by the legislature.”

A rally outside the legislature in support of some Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposed to the pipeline in northeastern B.C. has been ongoing for several days.

The legislature obtained an injunction to clear protesters from blocking entrances to the building, but the most recent protest on the front steps was not deemed to be blockading any entrances.

rshaw@postmedia.com

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