From October 7–9, 2025, the Survivors’ Secretariat hosted the “Knowledge is Sacred, Truth is Healing” Gathering on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Indian Residential School Survivors, community members, youth, and keynote speakers came together to share knowledge and discuss Indigenous data sovereignty. Key topics included access to records as well as barriers to accessing and possessing these records. Speakers also highlighted the critical role of international human rights law in addressing the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples.
Over three days, participants explored what it means for Indigenous Nations to have control over their own data; how records, research, and knowledge must be managed in ways that reflect community values, rights, and priorities. Conversations centered on the OCAP principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession, emphasizing that these are not just data standards but also a fundamental part of Indigenous self-determination.
“We need to have access to our own history. That means the records and the documents, and it means that we can’t stop fighting.” – Laura Arndt, Survivors’ Secretariat Lead
Dr. Beverly Jacobs LLB, LLM, PHD, highlighted that Indian Residential School abuses meet the definition of Crimes Against Humanity (COH) and genocide under international law, emphasizing the necessity of global recognition and accountability to fully address these injustices.
“Early in my law career, I recognized that the violations of human rights at Indian Residential Schools constituted genocide. From that moment, I understood that addressing these issues required using international law and engaging international systems to resolve this.” – Dr. Beverly Jacobs, LLB, LLM, PHD
In this blog, we will highlight key topics and discussions from the 2025 Knowledge is Sacred, Truth is Healing Survivors’ Gathering, focusing on Indigenous data sovereignty, access to records, and international human rights mechanisms.
Data Sovereignty: Community Control Over Knowledge
The principle that Indigenous peoples have the right to access their own records and maintain possession over them was one of the central themes of the gathering. Presenters underscored that maintaining control over Indian Residential Schools historical records is a critical aspect of Indigenous self-determination and is necessary to further investigations into missing/disappeared children and unmarked burials. The importance of the OCAP principles: Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession, was highlighted as a foundational framework for communities to manage and protect their records. While a detailed discussion on OCAP will be featured in a future blog, it was recognized as essential in guiding community-led research, archival work, and advocacy.
Access to Records: Challenges and Advocacy
Bureaucratic barriers, incomplete or partial documentation, long wait times, and legal restrictions were cited as obstacles to uncovering truth. These hurdles often prevent Survivors and their communities from accessing critical information related to Indian Residential Schools.
To address these challenges, policy reform is essential and includes:
– Amending domestic privacy and access-to-information laws to prioritize Indigenous access to Indigenous records.
– Establishing clear protocols for the return of records to Indigenous communities.
– Mandating transparency in the documentation and sharing of information related to Indian Residential Schools and related institutions.
The investigation into missing children and unmarked burials by the Survivors’ Secretariat has been slowed by the challenges associated with accessing records. Over a span of three and a half years, the Survivors’ Secretariat filed 42 access-to-information requests, only to encounter partial or delayed responses. Such experiences underscore the need for reform, including amendments to privacy legislation and access-to-information acts, to allow Indigenous communities full access to IRS records that document their histories.
Mi’kmaw Senator Brian Francis, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples, has been a vocal advocate for these reforms at the federal level. He called on the federal government to act on the Senate Committee’s Missing Children and Unmarked Burials report, which outlines 11 clear recommendations to strengthen accountability, improve access to information, and honour the rights of Indigenous people to have care and control over their own data.
Senator Francis emphasized that meaningful progress requires redirecting federal resources toward truth and justice rather than legal resistance, stating: “Stop spending millions of dollars in court fighting Survivors, fund the work.”
His message was echoed throughout the gathering as policy reform must not only remove bureaucratic barriers but also ensure that Indigenous communities lead decisions about their data, records, and histories.
During the Q&A, an attendee asked the Senator: “Many Survivors, families, and communities are still facing major barriers in accessing Residential School records. What actions can the Senate take to ensure full and timely access and hold institutions accountable?”
Senator Francis responded by outlining the tools available to the Senate and the importance of transparency in driving change: “We have several avenues. Our committee can invite witnesses, write to ministers, demand answers, and raise public awareness. The work we do in committees generates media coverage, which helps keep the public informed and puts pressure on institutions to act.”
Senator Francis mentioned that access alone is not enough, Indigenous communities must govern and interpret their own records, in line with their laws and traditions. The Senate committee’s report focused on supporting these efforts, holding institutions accountable, and ensuring that families have timely access to records so the truth can be uncovered and remembered.
Dr. Mark Mackisoc of the Ontario Coroner’s Office has been working in partnership with the Survivors’ Secretariat and other First Nations communities to ensure that no death goes overlooked, ignored, or concealed. He emphasized that the Coroner’s Office has the authority to retrieve and retain records related to Indian Residential Schools and encouraged Indigenous communities to reach out for support in investigations. Survivors’ Secretariat has engaged the Ontario Coroner’s Office to support their investigation as the Coroner’s Act, gives them broad authority to access documents from governments, churches, or private individuals without needing a judge or specialized requests.
“[We] can get any documents from any entity, provincial government, federal government, church, private, individual, it doesn’t matter, all we have to do is ask for it and they are compelled to give it to us under the Coroner’s Act.”
Dr. Mackisoc affirmed the importance of engaging local knowledge and historical memory to strengthen accountability and understanding. Dr. Mackisoc provided real-life examples of how the coroner’s office was able to assist communities including an individual who was searching for her sister for over a decade and kept meeting bureaucratic hurdles. When the coroner’s office started to search for her sister, they were able to locate significant details about her within a few hours, providing a much-needed sense of closure to her sister. Another example he provided was a list of previously unrecognized deaths that were revealed to the community during a ceremony to honour those children.
At the event, an individual came forward and stated she believed two of those deaths may have been her sisters, however the last name was incorrect. Upon further review of the documents associated with those children, it was confirmed through the parents’ names listed on their birth certificates that those two individuals were indeed her sisters. This underscores the need for the community and the coroner’s office to work collaboratively to provide a deeper understanding of what the records contain.
“Every name we provide, we work closely with Survivors to try and bring the memories of those children home,” he said, highlighting the integration of Survivor testimony with official records to verify deaths and historical events.
Safeguarding Our Stories: Community and Youth Inclusion
Survivors’ Secretariat Board Member Roberta Hill shared her lived experience at the Mohawk Institute (1957–1961) and spoke candidly about the ongoing challenges Survivors face when trying to access their own records. She described barriers such as inaccessible medical files, destroyed documents, and records scattered across multiple institutions.
Roberta emphasized that true accountability requires Indigenous community-led control over archives and data, ensuring that information about Indigenous peoples remains in Indigenous hands. She also reflected on her and the Secretariat’s ongoing efforts to safeguard history, support Survivor healing, and share truths with future generations.
She highlighted the importance of including youth in decision-making and fostering intergenerational knowledge sharing. “There should a be responsibility of the leadership to include the youth…everybody’s voice needs to be heard,” she said. Her advocacy reinforces the need for communities to guide record-keeping and historical research while empowering the next generation of leaders.
Mentoring young people, she emphasized, is essential for sustaining community-led stewardship of records and ensuring that knowledge, experiences, and responsibilities are passed forward.
Discussions resulted in several actionable recommendations including:
– Engage with official bodies, such as the Senate and the Ontario Coroner’s Office, to access and contribute to historical records.
– Advocate for policy reforms that facilitate Indigenous access to records.
– Mentor youth to take active roles in data stewardship and advocacy.
– Build networks across Indigenous communities to share knowledge and resources.
By actioning these recommendations, Indigenous communities can assert control over their histories, ensuring that the experiences of Indian Residential School Survivors and their families are acknowledged, preserved, and shared with future generations.
Justice Beyond Borders: Dr. Beverly Jacobs on Survivor-Led Advocacy and International Accountability
On the final day of the Knowledge is Sacred, Truth is Healing Gathering, Dr. Beverly Jacobs, LLB, LLM, PhD, delivered a presentation that linked international human rights law, genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity to the lived experiences of Indian Residential School Survivors. She emphasized that justice cannot rely solely on domestic systems, which have historically failed Indigenous peoples:
“Nothing’s going to happen in Canada, they are the perpetrator, they know their responsibility, and they’re going to hide it as long as they can.”
Dr. Jacobs encouraged participants to explore international avenues for justice, highlighting mechanisms such as the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT), scheduled to visit Montréal in May 2026. She also provided practical steps for Survivor-led engagement, including submitting letters, testimonies, and documentation to ensure these processes remain grounded in lived experience:
“It’s really important that you contact them, tell them who you are, tell them that you don’t want Canada to control the process, that it should be Survivor-led. I think every community should be participating and sending a letter to participate.”
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal visit was requested by Indigenous organizations, including the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and Amnesty International Francophone, to document violations of fundamental human rights, expose historical injustices, and identify responsible parties.
Dr. Jacobs also referenced the MMIW National Inquiry, Kim Murray’s OSI reports, and TRC findings to show that Canada’s past and ongoing acts and omissions meet the criteria for genocide, both physically and culturally:
“The intent to destroy Indigenous peoples in Canada was implemented gradually using varied tactics against distinct Indigenous communities.”
Throughout her presentation, Dr. Jacobs emphasized the importance of youth involvement to ensure advocacy work is taken up by the next generation. She encouraged formalizing youth participation in policy or community leadership roles.
Dr. Jacobs framed this work as multi-generational, Survivor-led, and international, emphasizing that accountability requires exposing historical truths while engaging younger generations in advocacy and cultural transmission. The Survivors’ Secretariat echoed her message, noting that supporting youth through knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and opportunities to lead is essential to keeping the movement strong and ensuring the pursuit of truth, justice, and healing endures.
International Perspective
On day three participations heard from two international organizations conducting work that has many parallels to the work of the Survivors’ Secretariat. The first speaker Daniel MacSweeney, Director of the Office of the Director of Authorized Intervention, Tuam (ODAIT), led a discussion about the investigation of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home in County Galway, Ireland. This site, which operated from 1925 to 1961, is believed to contain the remains of up to 800 children. MacSweeney, who previously worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross on missing persons, leads the state-approved forensic project, making sure it follows international standards and focuses on the needs of survivors and families.
During the presentation, MacSweeney explained the investigation process. It includes looking at historical records, talking with families, and carefully excavating the site to recover and, when possible, identify the children’s remains. He talked about the challenges, such as the age and condition of the remains, and stressed the importance of treating all children with dignity and respect. He also discussed accountability, memorials, and survivor support, offering important lessons for anyone working on investigations of unmarked burials in other institutional settings.
Attendees also heard from a group of delegates from the Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador project. Members shared their work highlighting community-centered projects, state violence, Survivor-led initiatives, and the importance of intergenerational involvement in memory work. The team shared how technology like Lidar can only provide us with data, but it is the memory of the communities and Survivors that provide the knowledge needed to interpret the data into something meaningful and healing.
At the end of the presentation, the Survivors’ Secretariat staff were presented with an embroidery of their logo which was crafted by an intergenerational Survivor as a token of appreciation and mutual respect.
A Shared Commitment:
The Gathering highlighted that truth-telling and healing are shared across generations. Bringing together Survivors and their communities creates a space to connect past experiences with present actions and future leadership.
This intergenerational exchange builds on the work that Survivors began, reinforces the importance of Indigenous knowledge, and ensures that advocacy, truth, healing, and justice continue with purpose. By passing knowledge from one generation to the next, communities are strengthened; histories, stories, and advocacy remain alive and in the hands of those most connected to them.
As part of these ongoing efforts, the Secretariat will be preparing formal letters for the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, supporting international accountability for Survivors.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all keynote speakers, staff, Survivors, attendees, and Indigenous communities who participated and continue to remain committed to this vital work. Your dedication and resilience are the foundation upon which we build a future rooted in truth, healing, and justice.
Our next blog will explore the topic of Indigenous data sovereignty further, including how communities can govern and protect their own information.