Former Nunavut and Northwest Territories cabinet minister Manitok Thompson has found herself at the heart of a controversy involving Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, and asserts the situation has been misrepresented by the media.

The controversy stems from an appearance Poilievre made on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The Conservative leader met with Algonquin Elders and leaders at the hillSA国际影视传媒檚 eternal flame, and later shared two photos from the day on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The caption for those photos mentioned his meetings with Algonquin Elders and leaders, but featured photos of two Inuit women SA国际影视传媒� one of whom was the Coral Harbour-born Thompson.

PoilievreSA国际影视传媒檚 detractors were quick to accuse him of confusing the countrySA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous communities, but Thompson contends the reality of the situation has been misconstrued, and is eager to SA国际影视传媒渃lear the air.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he statement is being misinterpreted by the media,SA国际影视传媒� she said of PoilievreSA国际影视传媒檚 post on X. SA国际影视传媒淥ne photo was taken, which I approved. He knew exactly who he was talking to as he referred to me as a former minister of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. He knew I am Inuit. We talked about Inuit issues.SA国际影视传媒�

After the incident, Poilievre spokesperson Sebastian Skamski told reporters that the Conservative leader refrained from posting other photos from the proceedings out of respect, as the Algonquin Elders and leaders on site were participating in cultural practices like smudging, which are not generally photographed or filmed.

Thompson said she accepts that explanation.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had over a hundred Algonquin people on Algonquin land and they were doing their prayers and smudge,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou donSA国际影视传媒檛 take photos of the people praying and hurting.SA国际影视传媒�

Thompson said she has been the target of online harassment in the days after the incident.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am being harassed by the liberal public,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 being told off.SA国际影视传媒�

Despite the backlash Thompson has received since Poilievre published his photos on X, she said she will not hesitate to meet with Canadian leaders again in the future, no matter which party they are affiliated with.

SA国际影视传媒淚 never give up,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 serve people no matter what.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 will always show up wherever there is a leader who can make a change in Inuit lives,SA国际影视传媒� said Thompson. SA国际影视传媒淚f [Justin] Trudeau was there, I would have done the same thing, but he wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 there with all the other Liberals on an important day. We were on the grounds of parliament but none of them showed up.

SA国际影视传媒滻 used the opportunity to put Inuit agenda with a man who might be prime minister,SA国际影视传媒� she added.