Murray Sinclair, Former Senator and Truth and Reconciliation Leader, Passes Away at 73

Murray Sinclair, the Anishinaabe leader and former senator who championed Indigenous rights and led Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has died at age 73. His family shared that Sinclair passed peacefully early Monday morning in a Winnipeg hospital, “surrounded by love.”

Sinclair, a groundbreaking Indigenous lawyer and Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge, devoted his life to advocating for truth, justice, and reconciliation. As chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 2009, he played a pivotal role in documenting the residential school system’s legacy, ultimately concluding Canada’s policies amounted to “cultural genocide.”

Tributes poured in from across the country, including from Governor General Mary Simon and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who described Sinclair as a “brilliant legal mind” who inspired generations. “Education got us into this mess,” Sinclair famously said, “and education will get us out.” Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, called Sinclair a “trailblazer” who transformed First Nations rights in Canada.

Raised by his Cree grandfather and Ojibway grandmother, Sinclair was deeply influenced by his family’s experience with residential schools. Though initially discouraged by Canada’s legal system, he persisted, becoming a prominent advocate for Indigenous people’s rights and inspiring the establishment of the Gladue principles, which consider Indigenous backgrounds in sentencing.

Following his retirement from the Senate in 2021, Sinclair served as chancellor of Queen’s University and continued to impact Canadian society until his final days. He is survived by his wife, Katherine Morrisseau-Sinclair, their five children, and three grandchildren.

A sacred fire has been lit outside the Manitoba Legislative Building, where mourners are invited to pay respects. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Murray Sinclair Memorial Fund at The Winnipeg Foundation.