UFV joins Canadians in mourning Murray Sinclair

Photo credit: Justin Tang, The Canadian Press

The world lost a leader in the journey towards truth and reconciliation this week.

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, also known as The One Who Speaks of Pictures in the Sky, or Mazina Giizhik, passed away on November 4 at the age of 73. The Anishinaabe humanitarian and truth teller leaves behind a legacy of wisdom and justice.

As a former senator, judge, and chair of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he spent his career advocating for Indigenous rights. In 1988, Murray became the second Indigenous judge in all of Canada — the first in the province of Manitoba. He was appointed to the Senate by Governor General David Johnston in 2016, retiring in 2021 to serve as chancellor of Queen’s University until June of this year. He held honorary doctorates from 14 different universities, awards like the Meritorious Service Cross and the Order of Manitoba, and was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2022.

Murray’s contributions to Indigenous communities are innumerable. He co-chaired the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry and directed the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Inquest, which examined the impact of structural racism within the criminal justice and healthcare systems.

Murray also became the chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009. After receiving testimonials from 7,000 Indigenous people in more than 300 communities, the commission released its final report on residential schools in 2015. He travelled the country for six years to learn their stories. This document consisted of six volumes iterating Canada’s history of cultural genocide.

Educational institutions like the University of the Fraser Valley have a responsibility to uphold Murray’s vision for reconciliation. As we work toward that goal, those looking for ways to learn and participate can find programs and resources through UFV’s Peace and Reconciliation Centre and Xwexwílmexwawt.

Murray is survived by his five children and three grandchildren. His wife, Katherine Morrisseau-Sinclair, predeceased him. His family honours his memory with a sacred fire outside the Manitoba Legislative Building to guide his spirit home. At present, they request that no additional sacred fires are lit for him, but those who are able may donate to the Murray Sinclair Memorial Fund. These contributions will support Indigenous women, children, families, and Survivors through the Winnipeg Foundation.

To learn more about Murray’s life and work, you can find his memoir, Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation in the UFV library. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s reports and calls to action can be found here.

Find below a message from Shirley Hardman, Associate Vice-President of Xwexwílmexwawt:

éy swáyel. As we have all been grappling with the recent news of the passing of Justice Murray Sinclair, I wish all of you the strength and courage to find your way through this news. Our collective thoughts have been with the man’s family, the family that generously time and again shared this man with all of us.

He did so much more for us than what was simply his job. Instead, he shared the gifts that were born in him, and he accepted as would be how he would walk his journey, turning his attention to where it was needed the most.

We can all agree that the Justice was an incredible being who brought the world an understanding of the need for Reconciliation in what is called Canada. It is from him we learned that Truth must come first—and we learned that truth is so much more than the telling. We also learned that Reconciliation is a simple agreement: that the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in this country can be improved. His leadership set a path for the 94 Calls to Action. As we reflect on who he was and what he brought to our path, I encourage us to continue in courage and to stay the course he encouraged us to accept.

Today we mourn the loss of a family man, a man of justice, and a man who brought us a great gift: to see the world differently. As his family, the Indigenous communities, and the world say their final good bye let us send them good medicine. Let our future honour the gifts The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair brought into our world. Ey Si:yam

As the days pass and the path becomes clear for the Sinclair family, Xwexwílmexwawt and PARC will organize a time for us to share together and be with one another. Hoych’ka Si:yam.