Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says Canada's premiers respect the three Indigenous groups that backed out of a meeting in Edmonton and are committed to working with them around a common table.
Notley says no work can be done towards a better Canada unless the priorities of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people are addressed.
New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant says it's unfortunate that the process of how best to meet has taken away from a focus on improving the lives of aboriginal people.
Three of five Indigenous groups boycotted the meeting with the premiers today, including the Assembly of First Nations.
Grand Chief Perry Bellegarde said at a news conference in Toronto that Indigenous Peoples are not just another special interest group and won't stand to be relegated to the sidelines.
The Native Women's Association of Canada and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples did show up for the meeting and said it was valuable for the connections they were able to make.