An Assembly of First Nations Chiefs are seen at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada Dec 4, 2012. (ANDRE FORGET/QMI AGENCY)

Hundreds of aboriginal leaders united on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women to push the federal government to launch a public inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada.

Violence against Native women was the central focus at a key strategy session held as part of a summit featuring hundreds of First Nations chiefs on Thursday.

The annual meeting of aboriginal leaders is organized in Ottawa by the Assembly of First Nations, which operates as an advocacy organization.