‘Natural leader’: Indigenous judge, TRC chairman Murray Sinclair mourned

WINNIPEG – Born when Indigenous people did not have the right to vote, Murray Sinclair rose to become one of the most decorated and influential people working on Indigenous justice and advocacy.

A former judge and senator, one of Sinclair’s biggest roles was chairing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Residential Schools.

The father of five died peacefully at a Winnipeg hospital Monday morning, according to a statement from his family. He was 73.

Orillia Senator Gwen Boniface said Sinclair’s impact was “immense.”

“Murray Sinclair was a respected colleague in the Senate,” Boniface said, calling him a “natural leader.”

She credits Sinclair for inspiring her to create the Reconciliation Roundtable in Orillia.

“Through many conversations, he inspired me to initiate the Reconciliation Roundtable in Orillia,” Boniface said. “I believe we have honored his sage wisdom and advice over the past five years.”

She said Sinclair continually repeated, “Education got us into this and education will get us out.”

When Boniface was commissioner of the OPP, she invited Sinclair to speak to senior officers.

“He spoke about the recommendations of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry. He was clear and direct and I think it got many of us thinking about what the police could do differently,” she said.

“On a personal level, Murray was reflective, steadfast and had a great sense of humor,” Boniface said.

“Mazina Giizhik (the one who talks about images in the sky) dedicated his life to serving the people: creating change, revealing the truth and leading with honesty throughout his career,” the statement said, adding noticed his traditional Anishinaabe name.

Tributes came from across the country, including from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“He challenged us to confront the darkest parts of our history – because he believed we could learn from them and become better from them,” said a post from Trudeau on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a friend and prominent leader in Canada who stood up for human rights, justice and truth,” said Governor General Mary Simon.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said Sinclair “broke barriers and inspired countless individuals to pursue reform and justice with courage and determination.”

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham called Sinclair a leader in justice, education and reconciliation.

“His passing feels especially sad because the journey he started is still ongoing, with much work ahead.”

A sacred fire has been lit outside the Manitoba legislature to guide his spirit home, the family said.

Sinclair was born in 1951 and grew up on the former St. Peter’s Indian Reserve north of Winnipeg. He was a member of Peguis First Nation.

He was raised by his grandparents and graduated from a high school in Selkirk, Man., where he excelled in athletics.

Some of his earliest childhood memories were published earlier this year in his memoir, “Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation.”

In it, Sinclair described the discrimination he experienced as an Anishinaabe at a non-Indigenous school.

“While I and others have succeeded in that system, it has not been without costs to our own humanity and sense of self-respect. These are the legacies we all face today.”

In 1979, Sinclair graduated with a law degree from the University of Manitoba and later became the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba – the second in Canada.

He co-chaired the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba to investigate whether the justice system failed Indigenous people following the murder of Helen Betty Osborne and the police shooting of JJ Harper.

As leader of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he participated in hundreds of hearings across Canada and heard testimony from thousands of residential school survivors.

The commissioners released their highly influential final report in 2015, which described what took place at the institutions as cultural genocide and included 94 calls to action.

“Education is the key to reconciliation,” Sinclair said. “Education got us into this mess and education will get us out of it.”

Two years later he and the other commissioners received the Meritorious Service Cross for their work.

It was one of many recognitions Sinclair received during his career.

In 1994 he received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, now the Indspire Awards, in the field of justice. In 2017, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the organization.

In 2016, Sinclair was appointed to the Senate. He retired from that role in 2021.

The following year he received the Order of Canada for dedicating his life to advocating for the rights and freedoms of Indigenous peoples.

In accepting that honor, Sinclair said he wanted to show the country that working on Indigenous issues requires a national effort.

“When I talk to young people, I always tell them that we all have a responsibility to do the best we can and be the best we can be,” he said.

Sinclair limited his public activities in recent years due to declining health.

In his memoirs, Sinclair described living with congestive heart failure. Nerve damage left him dependent on a wheelchair.

Sinclair’s memoir was released in September. He continued to challenge Canadians to take action.

“We know that improving things won’t happen overnight. It will take generations. That is how the damage happened and that is how the damage will be repaired,” Sinclair wrote.

“But if we agree on the goal of reconciliation and agree to work together, the work we do today will immeasurably strengthen Canada’s social fabric tomorrow.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

— With files from Dave Dawson