In the midst of the tsunami of the American presidential campaign, many events have been overshadowed. This was the case with the death of Murray Sinclair. The very one we consider to be the Nelson Mandela of Canada.
Lawyer, athlete, judge and former senator, Murray Sinclair made an even greater impact when he chaired the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, from 2009 to 2015.
Died at 73, of Ojibwe and Cree origin, he was born in Manitoba in the early 1950s. His mother was a survivor of the horrible residential schools.
As a young adult, this man of family and deep roots had to leave university to take care of his grandmother. Everything he would become later was already there, in this gesture of love and self-sacrifice for those close to him.
Returning to school, he became a lawyer. His specialty? Human rights, Indigenous rights, the protection of their languages and children.
Murray Sinclair was also not afraid to denounce the systemic racism experienced by First Nations for centuries. He contributed to documenting this racism with patience and rigor throughout his life.
From the infamous federal Indian Act to the creation, from coast to coast, of so-called residential schools whose real objective was to “kill the Indian within the Indian”, people were beaten, starved, raped and even killed thousands of little girls and boys for the sole reason that they were indigenous.
Words have meaning
In short, words with him had meaning. Moreover, he never fell into hatred or a desire for revenge. He aimed for justice for his people.
Its goal: in a powerful desire for national reconciliation, to seek, find and expose the truth. Because without truth, no reconciliation is possible. It was his fuel, his reason for being.
It was therefore no surprise that he was entrusted with the presidency of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. For six years, Murray Sinclair did a titanic job there.
More than 7,000 witnesses heard across the country. The openly racist and violent nature of residential schools was exposed.
Yes, according to him, it was indeed an attempt at cultural genocide. The expression shocked. Yet she said what she had to say.
In his quest, Murray Sinclair was also strongly inspired by Nelson Mandela and his heroic fight in South Africa against apartheid.
Tragically obvious
The connection between apartheid and Canadian residential schools for Aboriginal people was tragically obvious to him.
Admired and respected by the most modest to the most powerful, his funeral was attended by several dignitaries from here and abroad. Many emotional members of the First Nations were present.
They wore orange sweaters with the image of Every Child Matters (every child counts) and other impactful symbols.
Last Sunday, in Winnipeg, in this magnificent farewell ceremony lasting more than three hours – this is the full measure of the man’s importance – everyone came to thank and honor him.
They highlighted his courage, his compassion, his intelligence, his righteousness, his generosity of heart and his enlightened and enlightening spirit.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau summed it up in these few heartfelt words: “Murray Sinclair changed this country for the better.”
Murray Sinclair’s greatest legacy was described by Aboriginal Premier Wab Kinew of Manitoba as follows: “Even though you have lost our teacher, we have not lost his teachings.”
Murray Sinclair flew to other skies, surrounded by the love of his family.
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