Trudeau BOOED at opening ceremony of North American Indigenous Games

Justin Trudeau received a less than warm welcome as he took the stage at the opening ceremony of the North American Indigenous Games on Sunday night.

The sold-out crowd at Halifax's Scotiabank Centre booed the prime minister throughout his speech, their objection growing louder when he talked about the Liberal government's alleged commitment to helping indigenous communities.



The booing began just as Trudeau opened his mouth, echoing through the packed stadium as he walked up to the glass podium to deliver his remarks.

"Hello my friends," Trudeau began, his voice nearly drowned out by the chorus of disapproval emanating from around him. Once the boos died down, he went on to thank the attendees for the "incredibly warm welcome."

The crowd cheered when Trudeau praised Indigenous leaders, and said it was "very important" for the Liberals to provide funding to support the games, but those cheers turned to boos when he mentioned his government's commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, which many have said it has failed to live up to.

Hecklers piped up when Trudeau mentioned residential schools, which have become an area of contention between the prime minister and Indigenous communities since he snubbed an invitation to visit one on Canada's first Truth and Reconciliation Day in favor of going surfing in Tofino.

As Trudeau concluded his speech and left the stage, the boos nearly overpowered the cheers. 

The crowd only responded negatively to the prime minister's comments regarding his promises to Indigenous people. When he introduced the various participants of the games and emphasized the meaning of the event to their pride, they roared with enthusiasm.

This is not the first time Trudeau has been met with disapproval by critics over his treatment of indigenous communities. In 2022, just minutes after kicking off the COP15 Summit in Montreal, he was interrupted by indigenous protestors, some of whom referred to him as a "colonizer." 

He was also heckled during a visit to Kamloops shortly after the aforementioned Truth and Reconciliation Day faux pas. "Take your disrespect out of our tribe!" one person told him as he smiled and took photos with fans.