Murray Sinclair speaking in 2019.
Murray Sinclair speaking in 2019. Credit: michael_swan / Flickr Credit: michael_swan / Flickr

A statement from the family of Murray Sinclair announced that the former senator, judge and lawyer passed away on Monday morning, November 4 “peacefully and surrounded by love,” the family said in a statement. He was 73-years-old.

Sinclair was of the Anishinaabe Indigenous peoples and his family said that he dedicated his life to public service.

“Mazina Giizhik (the One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky) committed his life in service to the people: creating change, revealing truth, and leading with fairness throughout his career,” reads the family’s statement. Mazina Giizhik was Sinclair’s Indigenous name.

Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge, Sinclair served for five years as a Canadian Senator.

A cause of death has not been made public, and the family is asking for privacy at this time.

Truth and Reconciliation

Perhaps what Sinclair will most be remembered for was presiding over the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Setup in 2009, the TRC was aimed at reconciling Canada’s past with Indian Residential Schools.

For more than six years, the TRC interviewed over 6,000 residential school survivors and documented the physical, sexual, and emotional violence that Indigenous peoples suffered at these institutions.

In the conclusion of the report, the TRC found that those responsible for Indian Residential Schools, including the government of Canada, had committed cultural genocide.

The TRC issued 94 Calls to Action to help heal and reconcile the history of residential schools. 

When the report was released in 2015, Sinclair said that the process of reconciliation would be a long one.

“Achieving reconciliation is like climbing a mountain — we must proceed a step at a time. It will not always be easy. There will be storms, there will be obstacles, but we cannot allow ourselves to be daunted by the task because our goal is Just and and it also necessary,” he had said at a press conference following the report’s release.

Of the 94 Calls to Action, 10 years later, 11 have been completed, with 39 underway and the rest not started yet.

LISTEN: Truth and reconciliation: How is Canada doing?

A life celebrated

Indigenous writer and activist Cindy Blackstock remembered Sinclair as someone who was unafraid to shine a little on injustice.

Manitoba premier Wab Kinew issued a statement celebrating Sinclair’s career and lifelong commitment to the truth.

“It will be a long time before our nation produces another person the calibre of Murray Sinclair. He showed us there is no reconciliation without truth. We should hold dear in our hearts his words that our nation is on the cusp of a great new era and we must all ‘dare to live greatly together,’ reads a statement from Kinew.

Sinclair was passionate about his community, and in his memory, his family is asking that in lieu of flowers, that members of the public donate to a fund setup in his memory.

“In lieu of flowers, and if you are able, please donate to The Murray Sinclair Memorial Fund at The Winnipeg Foundation. Our dad loved and supported many community organizations and your funds will prioritize Indigenous women, children, families, and Survivors,” reads a statement from his family.

Furthermore, a sacred fire will be lit in Sinclair’s memory in front of the Manitoba Legislature.

“Everyone is welcome to visit his sacred fire to make an offering of tobacco and send him your best wishes. Out of respect for his journey for the next few days, the family respectfully asks others across the country to please DO NOT light any other fires for him,” the family’s statement concludes.

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Nick Seebruch

Nick Seebruch has been the editor of rabble.ca since April 2022. He believes that fearless independent journalism is key for the survival of a healthy democracy. An OCNA award-winning journalist, for...