Remembering Murray Sinclair: A Champion for Indigenous Rights
Murray Sinclair, a pivotal figure in advancing Indigenous rights in Canada, passed away on November 4 at the age of 73. His family confirmed that he died at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, after a prolonged illness. His health challenges had sadly kept him from attending the launch events for his memoir, “Who We Are,” which hit the shelves in September.
Known by his Anishinaabe name, Mazina Giizhik, Sinclair made history as the first Indigenous person to serve as a judge in Manitoba. He later extended his influence further as a member of Canada’s Senate. However, it was his role as the lead commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada from 2009 to 2015 that truly cemented his legacy on the national stage.
Over a span of six years, the commission gathered heart-wrenching testimonies from over 6,500 former students of Canada’s residential schools for Indigenous children. These accounts led to the powerful declaration that the residential school system constituted a form of “cultural genocide.” The schools, which operated for more than a century and were predominantly run by the Roman Catholic Church on behalf of the government, enforced policies that prohibited Indigenous languages and cultural practices, often resorting to corporal punishment.
Tragically, the commission uncovered that more than 3,200 students lost their lives due to malnutrition, abuse, neglect, or as a result of accidents and fires. Further investigations suggested that the actual number of deaths could exceed 10,000, a revelation Sinclair shared with The New York Times in 2021.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 2008 as part of a settlement from a class-action lawsuit filed by former students regarding their treatment in these schools. Its primary aim was to document the extensive history of the largely compulsory system and to propose actionable recommendations for Canadians to engage in meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. However, initial disagreements among its leaders over how to fulfill this mission led to Murray Sinclair’s appointment as a unifying figure who could guide the commission effectively.
