Honouring the Legacy of Murray Sinclair – A Champion of Truth and Reconciliation

“We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.” – Murray Sinclair??

“The Honourable Murray Sinclair helped put Canada on a path of Reconciliation. He challenged us, he educated us, and he believed in our ability to change. He will be dearly missed.” – Justin Trudeau?

Last November, Canada lost an iconic figure in the fight for justice and reconciliation, as Murray Sinclair, the renowned leader and lawyer, passed away at the age of 73. A proud member of the Peguis First Nation, Sinclair's life and work stand as a testament to his commitment to Indigenous people and his unwavering dedication to the cause of truth and reconciliation in Canada.?

A Leader Grounded in Anishinaabe Values?

Born and raised in Selkirk, Manitoba, Sinclair's connection to his Indigenous ancestry was profound. His Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) name, Mizanay Geezhik, meaning: "One who speaks to pictures in the sky," encapsulated his life's purpose and professional path. For Sinclair, his Fish Clan affiliation further tied him to important cultural teachings, knowledge, and values, which helped shape his worldview and contributed to his advocacy for justice and reconciliation. ?

Sinclair's unwavering dedication to justice was evident early in his career. In 1988, he made history as the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba, and in 2009, he was appointed the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Under his leadership, the commission would become crucial in acknowledging the harms inflicted upon Indigenous peoples through Canada’s residential school system.?

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission?

In Sinclair’s words, the concept of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission emerged during the negotiations for the Residential School Settlement Agreement (RSSA), reflecting an international approach to pursuing justice—one that prioritized fairness and healing over retribution.?

For six years, Sinclair and his fellow commissioners travelled across the country, listening to the heart-wrenching stories of residential school survivors. In its final report, the TRC concluded that Canada had perpetrated cultural genocide against Indigenous peoples, and that the harmful legacy of the residential schools, along with other systemic policies, contributed to the destruction of Indigenous cultures.??

Reflecting on the challenges of his tenure as commissioner, Sinclair acknowledged the early struggles in restoring the TRC's credibility, noting it had "stumbled badly from the outset" under the control and influence of the Government of Canada, contributing to widespread anger. Despite these obstacles, Sinclair remained steadfast in his belief that the TRC had to engage with those directly impacted by residential schools—survivors and their families—and encourage them to share their painful stories. The purpose of this was not only to uncover the truth but also to create a foundation for healing and reconciliation.?

The final report of the TRC, released in 2015, included 94 calls to action. These recommendations were intended to guide the nation toward reconciliation, recognizing that acknowledgment, education, and systemic change were key components in addressing the harms of the past.?

Sinclair's Continued Commitment to Reconciliation??

Sinclair's dedication to reconciliation extended beyond the TRC's work, as he remained a prominent advocate for Indigenous rights and justice for the remainder of his life. In 2016, he was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, becoming the 16th Indigenous member of what he viewed as Canada's "council of elders," before joining Cochrane Saxberg LLP in 2020, the largest Indigenous law firm in Manitoba. In 2021, he retired from the Senate to become Queen's University’s first Indigenous chancellor, where my dad, a former graduate, had the opportunity to meet him.

In 2022, Sinclair's efforts were formally recognized when he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada. He stepped down as chancellor in 2023 but remained at Queen’s as a special adviser. His advocacy and mentorship throughout these years remained focused on the importance of reconciliation, especially through the lens of education, which he believed was critical to healing and moving forward.??

Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation??

As if by divine intervention, his passing on November 4 closely coincided with the release of his memoir—Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation—just a few months earlier, which is structured around his thinking and worldview, asking readers—Where do I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here? Who am I? In the book, gifted to me on my birthday with a personal inscription from my dad, Sinclair believed that understanding and addressing these questions—both individually and collectively—was key to reconciliation.??

His emphasis on education as a means of reconciliation was evident in his words when the TRC’s final report was published: “Education got us into this mess and education will get us out of it.” He continued to reiterate this belief throughout his life and in his book, arguing that education is the pathway to both understanding the past and building a future rooted in justice and mutual respect.??

As we continue this journey of reconciliation, at the Ontario Public Service (OPS), we have been assigned Truth and Reconciliation learning goals designed to champion reconciliation, build knowledge, enhance Indigenous cultural competency, and deepen understanding. These goals steer our shared commitment to acknowledging the history of Indigenous, Inuit, and Métis peoples, recognizing the inter-generational impacts of colonialism, and creating an environment where meaningful change can occur.

Continuing the Journey of Reconciliation?

Although significant strides have been made concerning reconciliation, Sinclair remained clear-eyed about the road ahead. In his later years, he often spoke of the need for meaningful, systemic change and warned that reconciliation in Canada would take generations. While symbolic acts of solidarity, such as the recognition of Orange Shirt Day, are steps in the right direction, Sinclair emphasized that true reconciliation requires more than allyship—it requires the recognition of Indigenous rights to land, self-governance, and respect for treaties that have long been ignored by the Canadian government.??

As of 2023, only 13 of the TRC’s 94 calls to action have been fully implemented. Sinclair’s passing serves as a reminder that the work of reconciliation is far from complete. Yet, as we enter a new year, his legacy endures—not only through his pioneering efforts in law and public service but also through the continued work of those he inspired to carry the torch for justice and healing.