Leader of the Opposition, Thomas Mulcair. CHRIS WATTIE/REUTERS

OTTAWA - Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence should take a "step back" from her strike efforts in wake of recent inroads made between First Nations and the feds, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair said Sunday.

"I would sincerely call upon Chief Spence to realize that there has been a step in the right direction, to try and see now if we can keep putting pressure on the government to follow through," Mulcair said during an interview with CTV's Question Period following a few weeks of silence on recent First Nations protests. "I think that the best thing to do would be to step back from that now."

Spence has vowed to continue consuming only liquids until Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with a large body of aboriginal leaders and Gov. Gen. David Johnston. She has been set up at Ottawa's Victoria Island since Dec. 11.

Harper met with Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn Atleo and other aboriginal leaders on Friday afternoon but some chiefs, including Spence, w