The Passing of Murray Sinclair
Canada lost a great man this week. Anishnaabe, Member of the Peguis First Nation, Manitoban, Senator, Judge, Lawyer, Author and Champion of Indigenous rights - Murray Sinclair was all this and more.
His passing came as a shock to many of us who have admired his leadership and his contributions to our province and our country. His loss is profound.
Murray Sinclair is perhaps best known across Canada as the Chief Commissioner of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Through his steady and determined work, Canadians learned about the tragedy of the residential school system and how to address this lasting trauma.
But he was also known in Manitoba for his contribution to health care. Sinclair led the inquest into the 1994 deaths of 12 babies at the Health Sciences Centre General Hospital in Winnipeg. The inquiry lasted five years and according to Sinclair took a severe emotional toll on him. This impressed upon me the full sincerity, empathy and commitment he brought as a leader for the betterment of the larger community.
Like so many, I admired Murray Sinclair. As a young man practising law, he said he was often mistaken as the defendant rather than the lawyer. But he never seemed embittered by the slights and comments. Instead, he moved on, focusing on his goal, focusing on justice. He was never a victim. His energy, dedication and moral compass act as an inspiration for me and, I believe, for so many. His legacy is strong and he will be missed.
At CancerCare Manitoba, we will remember and be inspired by the life of Murray Sinclair, his work, his passion and his leadership, as we continue our commitment to improving cancer outcomes for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.