Indigenous Chiefs Weary of Federal Foot-Dragging; Trudeau Pleads for Patience

Some chiefs vow to resort to large-scale civil disobedience if the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion goes ahead

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers an address at the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly as National Chief Perry Bellegarde looks on, in Gatineau, Que., on May 2, 2018. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

GATINEAU, Que.—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed his commitment to enhanced, robust Indigenous rights May 2 as he pleaded for more patience from senior Aboriginal leaders—but his rhetoric rang hollow to a number of chiefs still staunchly opposed to the Kinder Morgan pipeline.

Trudeau kicked off Day 2 of the Assembly of First Nations annual meeting with a speech aimed at easing some of Indigenous community’s growing frustration with his Liberal government, a sentiment that was clear from the question-and-answer session that followed.