Seize03 - 25 May 2026
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal in Montreal: Truth and Accountability Regarding Residential Schools
This week, from May 25 to 29, the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) is holding public hearings on missing Indigenous children and unmarked graves at the Daphne Art Centre in Montreal.
Background: Indigenous Residential Schools
The Indian residential school system, in operation in Canada from the late 19th century until 1996, aimed to educate and assimilate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children by separating them from their families and communities. In total, approximately 150,000 children attended these institutions, which were jointly managed by the federal government and various religious institutions.
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its final report, concluding that this system constituted a form of cultural genocide. In it, the Commission issued 94 calls to action directed at governments, institutions, and Canadian society. Ten years later, their implementation remains incomplete.
Since 2021, research conducted at former residential school sites has revealed the presence of unmarked graves, revived public debate surrounding the fate of children who died in these institutions and the lack of information provided to their families. These discoveries have reignited the public debate on the need to continue efforts toward truth and accountability.
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal: A Mechanism for International Justice
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, founded in 1979 in Bologna, Italy, was conceived as an independent forum to hear cases involving human rights violations and the denial of self-determination, in instances where official international institutions failed to act.
The TPP operates through an independent and impartial investigation conducted by a panel of experts. It holds public hearings during which testimony from survivors, witnesses, and experts is presented. The accused parties are also invited to present their arguments. After the hearings, the judges review the evidence and issue a final judgment as well as an advisory opinion. Although this opinion is not legally binding, it carries significant moral and political weight, drawing attention to injustices often ignored by state institutions.
The Montreal Session: The 57th Session of the TPP
The Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal (NWSM), in collaboration with Amnesty International Canada Francophone, filed an indictment before the TPP against the Canadian state, as well as against other territorial and religious entities. This initiative, launched in 2024, is the culmination of extensive mobilization efforts involving survivors, families, experts in international law, archivists, and historians, aimed at building a solid and well-documented case.
This session focuses on reviewing the evidence regarding the Canadian government’s responsibility for the establishment, administration, and maintenance of the residential school system, as well as the serious human rights violations associated with it, including forced and coerced sterilizations, the disappearances and unmarked burials of Indigenous children, and the intergenerational trauma linked to the loss of language, culture, and identity.
The indictment, which was served on the Canadian government in accordance with the Tribunal’s statutes, charges the Canadian state with policies and practices adopted by various administrations over time, which, according to the prosecution, constitute genocide and crimes against humanity under international law.
SEIZE03 is closely monitoring these hearings and the developments that will follow. These hearings raise important issues for organizations called upon to speak publicly on matters of reconciliation and Indigenous rights. As a firm specializing in public affairs and recognized for its expertise in Indigenous affairs, our team is well-positioned to support organizations, institutions, and businesses seeking to better understand these issues, adjust their positioning, or develop a sensitive and informed communications strategy. Please feel free to contact us.
For more information
- Official website (schedule, issues, panel of judges): https://our-truths.com/
Analysis by our expert: Corinne Brochu, public relations consultant