Murray Sinclair memorial Sunday in Winnipeg

Murray Sinclair will be honored with a national ceremony of remembrance on Sunday.

He is the first Indigenous leader to be honored with the ceremony, which is held to honor “eminent Canadians, members of the royal family or citizens of another country who have made an impact on Canada,” according to the Canadian Heritage website.

Government representatives, First Nations, Inuit and Metis leaders and Sinclair’s family will be in attendance with musical performances by Morgan Grace, William Prince, Fawn Wood and Aysanabee.

The public is also very welcome.

The ceremony will take place at the Canada Life Center at 2 p.m. CTV News Winnipeg will broadcast the event live.

Sinclair, a former senator, judge and chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for residential schools, died Monday at the age of 73 in a Winnipeg hospital. He was the first Indigenous judge appointed in Manitoba.

Several government representatives and indigenous leaders are expected to attend.

During his career, he co-chaired the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba, which examined whether the justice system was failing Indigenous people.

Sinclair served as senator from 2016 to 2021.

He chaired the Truth and Reconciliation, which collected stories from residential school survivors across Canada and included 94 calls to action.

A teepee and sacred fire still remain on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature, where people can pay tribute to Sinclair.

A memorial page was set up by the federal government to learn more about Mr. Sinclair’s life and a online condolence register is available to be signed.

-With files from The Canadian Press.