Trudeau's successful 2015 election bid was based in part on Trudeau's promises to repair the government's relationship with First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Canada.

Speaking at British Columbia's central Interior, Trudeau said the colonial officials of the day erred in inviting the chiefs for peacekeeping talks where they were instead arrested, tried and hanged.

The prime minister used his speech to the UN General Assembly to frankly acknowledge the dark history of Canada's colonization.