History society honours Free Press columnist Brodbeck

A Free Press columnist is among the winners of the Manitoba Historical Society’s annual Margaret McWilliams Awards.

Tom Brodbeck won in the popular history category for his book, Treaties, Lies & Promises: How the Métis & First Nations Shaped Canada. The book, published by Ronsdale Press, was among four nominees in the category.

“I am so humbled and grateful for this award,” Brodbeck said. “It is truly an honour to be recognized by the Manitoba Historical Society. I hope this helps bring greater attention to the importance of learning about our true history and to the many contributions Indigenous peoples have made to our province and country.”

A book by late former judge and senator Murray Sinclair, as told to Sara Sinclair and Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair, won in the local history category. Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation was published by McClelland & Stewart. Niigaan Sinclair, who is Murray Sinclair’s son, was also among the six nominees in that category for Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre, published by Penguin Random House Canada.

“Dad never claimed to be a historian, but a person deeply embedded in history. He would be very honoured to be viewed as someone contributing to the ongoing story of Manitoba, and our family thanks the Manitoba Historical Society for this recognition,”  Niigaan Sinclair said.

Gerald Friesen won in the scholarly history category for The Honourable John Norquay: Indigenous Premier, Canadian Statesman, beating out three other nominees. The book was published by the University of Manitoba Press.

Each recipient receives $500.

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The society was founded in 1879. The awards, one of the oldest literary prizes in Canada, encourage the study and interpretation of Manitoba history. They were established in 1955 as a memorial to feminist, historian and author Margaret Stovel McWilliams.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca