As native women pressure the provincial government to examine allegations of systematic abuse, Premier Philippe Couillard said he does not think an inquiry would be effective.

Hundreds of people gathered on the steps in the Quarter des Spectacles on Tuesday evening to call for an inquiry into the problems encountered by indigenous women.

Last week the Crown prosecutor's office of Quebec announced that out of 37 cases of sexual and physical abuse allegedly committed by police officers in Val d'Or and other rural communities, only two were resulting in criminal charges.

Activists such as Nakuset said that was unacceptable.

"When you are violated and you have to go to court, I think the statistic is something like only there percent are vindicated. Why even bother? So now with what happened in Val d'Or it's an even bigger alarm. Why bother?" said Nakuset.

The numbers of sexual assaults reported to police vary, but the 2004 General Social Survey on crime found that 78 percent of sexual assaults in Canada were not reported to police.

Nakuset said that activism, and pushing the government for an inquiry, were the only way to alter attitudes.

"If we start making some change by showing up in numbers, something could happen that's positive," said Nakuset.

The Premier said change must occur, but did not think that holding an inquiry into the abuse of native women in Quebec would be useful, especially with the federal government leading an inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women.

"If you want to replicate what just happened, it's not going to be helpful for anyone," said Couillard.

"It could actually reproduce and increase the sense of disappointment in the communities."

After meeting with Ghislain Picard, the chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, Couillard said he wants to do something effective.

"We have to look at different ways that will still be satisfactory for the communities but also efficient in terms of practical actions," said Couillard.

"I do not want to rule anything out."

Couillard is off to France and Madagascar for the next week, but promised he will meet again with members of the First Nations upon his return.