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A life in pictures: Hon. Murray Sinclair By: Staff Posted: Last Modified:

A look back at the life of trailblazing judge, senator and National Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Murray Sinclair.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/11/2024 (614 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A look back at the life of trailblazing judge, senator and National Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Murray Sinclair.

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Former judge and senator Murray Sinclair dies at 73
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Local - NCTR funding / ground breaking Environmental portrait of Honourable Murray Sinclair, Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and who has played a major role in spearheading the project, at the building site of the new NCTR building. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) holds ceremonial, ground breaking event at the site of the future NCTR building on the northeast corner of the University of Manitoba Tuesday. The event featured addresses from the Honourable Murray Sinclair and NCTR Executive Director Stephanie Scott, along with residential school Survivors, Also, Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations announced funding commitments towards the total construction cost of a new, permanent home for the NCTR and to support the NCTRÕs ongoing work, including research and education. More info: Once completed, the NCTR building will be an international learning centre where Survivors, their families and people from across Canada and around the world can come to hear the truth about residential schools.The new building will enable the NCTR to bring millions of historical records, photos, documents and rare records under one roof for the first time. See Gabby's story. Nov 9th, 2022
A great loss for Manitoba and the nation
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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS People pay their respects to Murray Sinclair at a sacred fire lit inside a teepee in front of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Monday.
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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES The Canada Life Centre will host the memorial service for Murray Sinclair, starting at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Another side of the multi-faceted Murray Sinclair
Kent Monkman The Hon. Sen. emeritus Murray Sinclair. 48” x 36”, acrylic on canvas, 2024. Image courtesy of the artist.
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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Murray Sinclair, who has received the vaccination, poses for a portrait on his property near St. Andrews on Monday, March 22, 2021. For Kevin Rollason story. Winnipeg Free Press 2021
A trailblazer with ‘a great deal of integrity’: Murray Sinclair’s memorial draws dignitaries, more than 1,000 supporters
Niigaan Sinclair speaks during his father, Murray Sinclair's memorial service, who was a former judge, senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools, in Winnipeg on Sunday Nov. 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Sudoma

(Jeff de Booy / Free Press files) Judge Murray Sinclair on Sept. 2, 1989. When Sinclair was appointed to the provincial court of Manitoba, he made history as the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba. He was appointed as associate chief judge of the provincial court in 1988.
(Jeff de Booy / Free Press files)

Judge Murray Sinclair on Sept. 2, 1989. When Sinclair was appointed to the provincial court of Manitoba, he made history as the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba. He was appointed as associate chief judge of the provincial court in 1988.

(Dave Johnson / Free Press files) Commissioner Murray Sinclair (right) with commissioner Alvin Hamilton for the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, pictured in November 1989.
(Dave Johnson / Free Press files)

Commissioner Murray Sinclair (right) with commissioner Alvin Hamilton for the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, pictured in November 1989.
(Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files) Judge Murray Sinclair presided over a pediatric cardiac surgery inquest into the 1994 deaths of 12 babies at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. In 2000, he released his inquest report and his findings, stating some of the deaths were preventable.
(Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files)

Judge Murray Sinclair presided over a pediatric cardiac surgery inquest into the 1994 deaths of 12 babies at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. In 2000, he released his inquest report and his findings, stating some of the deaths were preventable.
(Phil Hossack / Free Press files) Judge Murray Sinclair speaks to students at Sisler High School.
(Phil Hossack / Free Press files)

Judge Murray Sinclair speaks to students at Sisler High School.
(Phil Hossack / Free Press files) Murray Sinclair was sworn in as a judge on Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench in 2001.
(Phil Hossack / Free Press files)

Murray Sinclair was sworn in as a judge on Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench in 2001.
(Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files) Justice Murray Sinclair received an eagle feather at a restorative justice banquet in 2001.
(Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files)

Justice Murray Sinclair received an eagle feather at a restorative justice banquet in 2001.
(Boris Minkevich / Free Press files) Justice Murray Sinclair was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Winnipeg in 2011. Then-university president Lloyd Axworthy presented the honour.
(Boris Minkevich / Free Press files)

Justice Murray Sinclair was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Winnipeg in 2011. Then-university president Lloyd Axworthy presented the honour.
(Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files) Justice Murray Sinclair was appointed chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009. He's pictured here at The Forks in 2010 on the national day of healing for residential school survivors.
(Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files)

Justice Murray Sinclair was appointed chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009. He's pictured here at The Forks in 2010 on the national day of healing for residential school survivors.
(Mike Deal / Free Press files) Chief Justice Murray Sinclair speaks at the We Day event for young people while a photo of his granddaughter is projected onto the screen in October 2012.
(Mike Deal / Free Press files)

Chief Justice Murray Sinclair speaks at the We Day event for young people while a photo of his granddaughter is projected onto the screen in October 2012.
(Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files) Murray Sinclair speaks during Truth and Reconciliation Commission events in 2015.
(Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files)

Murray Sinclair speaks during Truth and Reconciliation Commission events in 2015.
(Boris Minkevich / Free Press files) Murray Sinclair attends the grand opening of the National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba in November 2015.
(Boris Minkevich / Free Press files)

Murray Sinclair attends the grand opening of the National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba in November 2015.
(Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) greets Justice Murray Sinclair at the release of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada on the history of Canada's residential school system, in Ottawa on Dec. 15, 2015.
(Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) greets Justice Murray Sinclair at the release of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada on the history of Canada's residential school system, in Ottawa on Dec. 15, 2015.
(Mikaela Mackenzie / Free Press files) During the COVID-19 pandemic, former Senator Murray Sinclair used his voice to encourage other Indigenous people to get vaccinated.
(Mikaela Mackenzie / Free Press files)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, former Senator Murray Sinclair used his voice to encourage other Indigenous people to get vaccinated.
(Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press files) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shares an embrace with Murray Sinclair as they take part in ceremonies for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Ottawa on Sept. 30, 2022.
(Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press files)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shares an embrace with Murray Sinclair as they take part in ceremonies for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Ottawa on Sept. 30, 2022.
(Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files) Another first: Murray Sinclair became the first Anishinaabe person inducted in the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Citizens Hall of Fame. A bronze bust in his likeness was unveiled in September 2022.
(Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

Another first: Murray Sinclair became the first Anishinaabe person inducted in the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board’s Citizens Hall of Fame. A bronze bust in his likeness was unveiled in September 2022.
(Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files) Murray Sinclair attends the future site of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in November 2022.
(Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

Murray Sinclair attends the future site of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in November 2022.
(Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files) Murray Sinclair attends the future site of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in November 2022.
(Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)

Murray Sinclair attends the future site of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in November 2022.
(Mike Deal / Free Press files) Murray Sinclair speaks during a Public Safety Summit at the RBC Convention Centre in April 2024. A few weeks later, he was inducted into the Order of Manitoba.
(Mike Deal / Free Press files)

Murray Sinclair speaks during a Public Safety Summit at the RBC Convention Centre in April 2024. A few weeks later, he was inducted into the Order of Manitoba.
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