Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not commit to holding a national inquiry on systemic racism in policing Thursday morning even as he acknowledged the pain of First Nations mothers who have had to bury their children after an interaction with police.

Trudeau was addressing the Assembly of First Nations gathering in Ottawa two days after the chiefs passed a resolution calling for an inquiry into policing and police-related deaths.

That resolution came after nine First Nations people were killed in less than four weeks in August and September.

Three women whose sons and daughters died during or after an interaction with police made an emotional plea for the government to reform the .

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been waiting for this moment for four-and-a-half years,SA国际影视传媒� said Martha Martin, whose son and daughter died in 2020 after interactions with police.

SA国际影视传媒淗ow many more of our people have to die by your police?SA国际影视传媒� she said through tears as she stood at the microphone, addressing Trudeau and a handful of ministers.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 time to sit down with us, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 time to start making changes.SA国际影视传媒�

Most attendees stood in support as she, Claudette Korchinski-Paquet and Edith Wells SA国际影视传媒� who lost their daughter and son after interactions with police, respectively SA国际影视传媒� demanded better for their families and others.

SA国际影视传媒淪hame on Canada,SA国际影视传媒� one delegate shouted before Trudeau acknowledged the mothers, and said none of them should have had to bury their children.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 also committed to doing everything in my power as a government to try to fix this, to try to change and address the systemic discrimination,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e in a very, very imperfect world, and are reminded of it regularly.SA国际影视传媒�

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige called TrudeauSA国际影视传媒檚 actions SA国际影视传媒渃owardly.SA国际影视传媒�

She said by not committing to call an inquiry, he is allowing Canada to remain complicit in systemic discrimination.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a clear indication that he does not support First Nations and their quest for the truth,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Only after the inquiry will justice happen, she said, and until then First Nations people will continue to suffer.

Thursday marked the end of the three-day assembly, which focused heavily on reforming the child welfare system and the harms done by police in First Nations communities.

Canadian politicians often show up to the December assembly to pitch their case on why theySA国际影视传媒檙e best suited to work with First Nations and take questions from chiefs.

While chiefs are often willing to hold leaders to account when they address the Assembly of First Nations, the dial was turned up more than usual, especially for NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh SA国际影视传媒� who is generally received warmly by chiefs who line up to take photos with him SA国际影视传媒� and for Trudeau, who campaigned in 2015 on building better relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

Singh spent a significant portion of his speaking time blasting Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for his record on Indigenous issues, and praised some of his MPs for their work.

Poilievre was invited to speak but did not.

After Singh spoke and the floor was opened up to questions, chiefs told him the Assembly of First Nations is not a campaign trail, and that reconciliation means action. Another chief said they have requested to meet with him but havenSA国际影视传媒檛 received a response, which Singh apologized for.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 trying to get out to as many nations as I can,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淏eing on the ground is the best way to speak with and connect with the community.SA国际影视传媒�

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Fran莽ois Blanchet addressed the assembly solely in French.

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Cody Diabo confronted Blanchet, saying Quebec sees itself as a sovereign nation without respecting the sovereignty of First Nations.

SA国际影视传媒淢y ancestors were here while yours arrived on boats,SA国际影视传媒� said Diabo, to applause in the room.

SA国际影视传媒淲e can have a conversation about what our relationship should be, and how your people can start packing up.SA国际影视传媒�

Blanchet was booed when he told chiefs he is sensitive to the fact French people came to this land a few hundred years ago, but that they need to be aware of the current moment.

Trudeau, who was flanked by Justice Minister Arif Virani, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, similarly bore the brunt of chiefsSA国际影视传媒� frustrations.

The panel came to a close after taking six questions from chiefs, though several stood at the microphone.

After Trudeau and the ministers rose and attempted to leave, they were heckled by chiefs, after which they stayed for more questions.

SA国际影视传媒擝y Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press