Relatives, friends, and leaders unanimously assert that Murray Sinclair, who passed away this week at the age of 73, and his profound legacy will ‘never be forgotten’.
Canada recently held a deeply moving national memorial for Murray Sinclair, a pioneering Indigenous judge and senator, renowned for steering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that addressed the grave abuses faced by Indigenous children within the notorious residential school system.
The poignant public event, attended by countless supporters, took place on Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg, the heart of central Canada, just days after Sinclair’s death on November 4 at the age of 73.
“Few people have shaped this country in the way that my father has, and few people can say they changed the course of this country the way that my father had – to put us on a better path,” reflected his son, Niigaan Sinclair, at the outset of the memorial, encapsulating the widespread admiration for his father.
“All of us: Indigenous, Canadians, newcomers, every person whether you are new to this place or whether you have been here since time immemorial, from the beginning, all of us have been touched by him in some way,” he added, emphasizing Sinclair’s widespread influence.
Sinclair, an esteemed Anishinaabe lawyer and senator, hailed from the Peguis First Nation and made history as the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba and the second in Canada overall.
During his tenure as chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Sinclair orchestrated hundreds of hearings across Canada, ensuring that survivors of the residential school system had the opportunity to share their harrowing experiences.
Caring Society statement on the Passing of the Honourable Murray Sinclair. pic.twitter.com/inhhyamNKt
— First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (@CaringSociety) November 4, 2024
From the late 1800s until 1996, Canada forcibly removed an estimated 150,000 Indigenous children from their families and made them attend these institutions. Children endured haircuts against their will, were prohibited from speaking their native languages, and were subjected to horrific physical and sexual abuse.
“The residential school system established for Canada’s Indigenous population in the nineteenth century is one of the darkest, most troubling chapters in our nation’s history,” Sinclair poignantly remarked in the TRC’s final report, shedding light on an anguishing part of the country’s legacy.
“It is clear that residential schools were a key component of a Canadian government policy of cultural genocide,” Sinclair emphasized, underscoring the profound impact of these institutions.
Mary Simon, the first Indigenous governor general of Canada, honored Sinclair during the memorial service by describing him as “the voice of truth, justice, and healing” whose contributions were invaluable.
She remarked that Sinclair possessed “a heart brave enough to expose injustices, yet generous enough to make everyone around him feel welcome and important,” highlighting his dual capacity for courage and compassion.
Other Indigenous community leaders and advocates across the nation shared their memories of Sinclair in the days following his passing, celebrating his steadfast dedication to challenging the systemic racism faced by Indigenous peoples.
“One of the greatest insights he shared is that reconciliation is not a task to be done by Survivors. True reconciliation, he said, must include institutional change,” stated Alvin Fiddler, the grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) in northern Ontario, resonating with many at the event.
“Reconciliation, he taught us, is ours to achieve,” Fiddler affirmed, echoing Sinclair’s vision for a united future.
“The work ahead of us is difficult, but we share his belief that we owe it to each other to build a country based on a shared future of healing and trust. Murray encouraged us to walk the path towards reconciliation. Accepting this responsibility is a fitting way to honor his legacy,” Fiddler passionately declared.
Pam Palmater, chair of Indigenous governance at Toronto Metropolitan University, recognized Sinclair as an unwavering educator who “never stopped educating Canadians … and making sure we never forget” the past.
In an interview with CBC News on Sunday, Palmater stressed that Sinclair’s legacy extends beyond the TRC; he was also integral to a major inquiry into child fatalities in Manitoba and a significant investigation into police practices in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
“He’s never going to be forgotten. He’s one of those people where his legacy lives on,” Palmater asserted with conviction. “His impact is going to be felt for many decades to come.”