2024: Honouring Murray Sinclair (1951– 2024)
December 20, 2024
Ojibwe Leader, Justice Murray Sinclair, (1951 - 2024)
As we approach the end of another year it is a time to reflect back on the previous twelve months and reflect on the people we lost. One of those was Murray Sinclair. Sinclair was a lawyer, judge and inspirational leader from Manitoba whose Ojibwe name was Mizanay Gheezhik, meaning "the One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky". He was named by Traditional Ojibwe Teacher and Elder Onaubinisay (Jim Dumont). Murray Sinclair was a member of the fish-clan and an Ojibwe language speaker. He and his second wife Katherina Morrisseau-Sinclair were deeply involved as spiritual leaders, both Road Chiefs of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge, as well as community advocates. Sinclair was also a second-degree member of the Midewiwin (Grand Medicine) Society of the Ojibwe.
Murray passed away on November 4, 2024 of congestive heart failure. He was 73 years old. As a lawyer Murray served clients in Civil and Criminal litigation with an emphasis on indigenous clients. He also served as counsel for the First Nations of Manitoba and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. He had a particular expertise with respect to Aboriginal legal issues, having taught courses on Aboriginal People and the Law in the Department of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba.
Murray became the first indigenous person appointed as a judge in Manitoba when he was appointed associate chief judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba in March 1988. He was only the second indigenous person appointed as a judge in Canada. In his role as associate chief judge he was appointed as co-commissioner of Manitoba's Public Inquiry into the Administration of Justice and Aboriginal People (The Aboriginal Justice Inquiry)along with Court of Queen's Bench Associate Chief Justice A. C. Hamilton, The Inquiry’s 1991 Report was an extensive study of issues plaguing the relationship between Aboriginal people in Manitoba and the justice system and it had a significant impact on law and legal policy in Canada. It was referenced in the better-known Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples of Canada (RCAP) (established in 1991, Report published 1996).
Murray Sinclair will likely be best remembered for his leadership as the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He originally declined the appointment because of the potential emotional trauma he believed he would experience. However, when the original Chair stepped down he agreed to take on the role provided the mandate included the requirement for consensus rather than a majority rules voting approach. His role ensured that after the Commission released its Report he remained one of the foremost voices on Reconciliation.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Report ought to be mandatory reading for all Canadians as part of any curriculum on Canadian history. In addition, we would recommend reading Murray Sinclair’s own memoir, Who We are: Four Questions For a Life and a Nation[1] published in September 2024, just before his death. In his own words Murray demonstrates that he had the necessary humility and humanity to produce The Truth and Reconciliation Report that is balanced yet speaks the truth to people in power. It remains a massive challenge for the federal government to properly embrace the Commission’s recommendations; something they have unfortunately dismally failed at.
In April 2016 Murray was supported by recommendations from Manitoba’s indigenous communities and appointed to Canada’s Senate. As he attests to in his memoirs he saw the role of the Senate was not necessarily to question government policies or legislation per se but to be a voice of reason that ensured the rights of minorities were protected. To this end he acted as a mediator, made numerous public appearances on matters relating to Indigenous issues and the Senate of Canada. During his time a Senator, he was also asked to investigate the role of the Thunder Bay, Ontario Police Services Board, in the light of allegations of systemic racism in policing in that community. That report was completed in October 2018.
Murray was a positive voice and recognized that governments and indigenous associations at the regional and national levels have made some significant inroads with respect to the establishment of and recognition of indigenous rights including the right to self-government. He cited the Indigenous led squashing of the government’s 1969 White Paper[2] (which would have repudiated all Treaties), the establishment of a National Agenda on land claims, the entrenchment of indigenous rights in the Canadian Constitution, and the creation of Nunavut all as examples of achievements made to further the rights of indigenous people.
Murray lived to see, due to his Truth and Reconcilation work and the persistence of survivors of the residential schools’ system, positive and important steps forward including apologies from the United, Presbyterian and Anglican churches, as well as the federal government under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Stephen Harper. These steps and the accumulation of thousands of lawsuits eventually resulted in the negotiation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (2006) which provided for:
A Common Experience Payment;
An Independent Assessment Process;
Support for the Aboriginal Health Foundation;
Support for residential school commemoration; and
the Establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Despite these steps forward Sinclair noted in his book that there remains a legacy of unresolved issues including:
Addressing child welfare issues;
Improving the delivery of education to indigenous populations;
Restoring language and culture;
Improving health;
and, Addressing inequities in the justice system.
Before resigning, former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland promised to keep the federal deficit at or below $40 billion in 2023-24, but the statement revealed a deficit of $61.9 billion. The Finance Department attributed the overshot mainly to a "significant one-time" expense of $16.4 billion for settling Indigenous legal claims. Statements from the Finance Department have met with significant criticism from indigenous associations including the Anishinabek Nation; the Assembly of First Nations; and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC). All these voices demand the government retract the statements and to reframe these expenses as part of meeting its obligations with respect to resolving the outstanding issues that remain unsettled.
It is unfortunate that the lack of a comprehensive strategy and vision from the federal government hinders the efforts to keep the tone positive and the momentum moving forward to repair the past damage done to indigenous people. It also clearly demonstrates how deeply the leadership of Murray Sinclair will be missed.
Anokiigamig eLearning wishes all readers a safe and happy holiday season. Let us all welcome the New Year with fresh energy and optimism for the future.
[1] Sinclair, Murray, Who We are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation, McClelland Stewart, 2024,
[2] White Paper was titled: Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy