Deep sense of connection

Six decades ago Murray Clearsky ran away from a residential school in Brandon, not knowing where his life would take him.

On Thursday night at Assiniboia Downs, he was honoured by Indigenous leaders from across the country for his lifetime of accomplishments, including the past 40 years as chief of Waywayseecappo First Nation.

It’s been quite a ride, and always connected to horses.

Indigenous leaders and dignitaries at the ceremony included Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Peguis First Nation Chief Dr. Stan Bird, Southern Chiefs Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, AFN Regional Chief Willie Moore, Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation Chief Gordon Bluesky, Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean, and Allen Sutherland, elder and knowledge keeper, who delivered the opening prayer.

The grandstand was packed on the chilly, rainy evening but the weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd, who enjoyed entertainment from Gator Beaulieu, Coco Stevenson and the Walking Wolf Singers, Chief Raymond Brown, Canupawakpa, and Hand Drums and Dancers, followed by the SCO Anishinaabe Horse Relay, which featured four exciting races and some amazingly talented bareback riders.

At 12, Clearsky faced the harsh realities of residential school life in Brandon. When supervisors became too challenging to endure, he made a defining decision: he ran away.

What followed was an extraordinary journey westward. Knowing only that he had a sister in Saskatchewan and that Saskatchewan was west, the determined boy walked and hitchhiked his way to Carlyle, Sask., hiding from every vehicle he encountered. A farmer eventually helped guide him to his destination, where he was placed in a foster home.

“They put me in a home on a farm, and the people treated me well, they taught me a lot,” said Clearsky.

From those humble beginnings emerged one of Manitoba’s most respected Indigenous leaders. Clearsky returned to Waywayseecappo in the early 1980s, where his capabilities were quickly recognized.

By 28, he had become chief, a position he has held for an unprecedented 40 years.

His leadership extended beyond his home community when Birdtail Sioux Dakota First Nation called him while he was driving, asking if he would serve as their chief.

“I thought about it, “said Clearsky. “I was driving down the road, I was alone, and I said, ‘Yeah, what the hell? I’ve got nothing to lose.’” He served there for two years, demonstrating his ability to bridge tribal divisions.

Throughout his leadership journey, horses have remained a constant companion. From his earliest memories of riding his father’s work horses as the lightest child tasked with steering them home through deep snow while dragging logs, to building one of Canada’s most impressive horse operations, Clearsky’s connection to horses runs deep.

His relationship with Assiniboia Downs spans nearly four decades. He first began racing horses at the track 35-40 years ago, including a memorable runner named Elijah Hill. He currently has 27 horses at the Downs with trainer Sherri Laing. While the year has proved challenging, Clearsky has gained valuable insight.

“She’s doing the best she can with what she has,” he said of Laing’s efforts, intimating that $2,500 horses wouldn’t cut it here. “The better horses are the ones who are winning.”

Today, Clearsky owns over 350 horses, ranging from racehorses competing at Assiniboia Downs to bucking horses that he contracts to rodeos across Western Canada and into the United States. His stock has competed at the Canadian Finals in Edmonton and Las Vegas. Along with his 3,200-acre grain farming operation, Clearsky has built an empire reflecting both his business acumen and cultural connection to the land.

Assiniboia Downs has become more than just a racetrack for Clearsky, who has also won races at Canterbury Park in Minnesota and Turf Paradise in Arizona. It represents the only venue in Manitoba or Saskatchewan where he can race his horses, making it an essential hub for Indigenous participation in the sport.

Assiniboia Downs serves as an unparalleled centre for Indigenous sports excellence in Canada. Indigenous trainers have won the leading trainer title for 10 consecutive years, with 12 of the last 16 titles going to Indigenous horsemen. That tradition looks like it will continue this year, with Steve Keplin, Jr. currently at the top of the standings and five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau moving fast up the leaderboard. Both Gourneau and six-time title winner Tom Gardipy Jr. are members of the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.

The track’s Indigenous excellence also extends to the broadcast booth, where Kirt Contois serves as track announcer, providing the First Nation voice of Assiniboia Downs’ live broadcasts.

This concentration of Indigenous achievement creates what many consider a centre of excellence unlike any other sport in the province. Clearsky’s deep appreciation for the facility is best demonstrated by his candid admission: “I always wished I could own this place.”

For someone who has built a vast agricultural and equine empire, this aspiration speaks volumes about the track’s value as a cultural and sporting hub for Indigenous communities.

For someone who has achieved so much, from escaping residential school trauma to becoming one of Canada’s longest-serving chiefs, Clearsky finds his greatest peace in simple moments with his horses.

“I’ve probably got about 125 horses running at home, and when I’m stressed out, I’ll walk out in the pasture and just look at the horses,” said Clearsky.

Among all his horses, one bucking horse named Timberline holds a special place in his heart.

“They all come up to me. And I say a few things to them. And when I turn to walk away, Timberline, a big bay horse, will follow me. He’ll put his head right here,” said Clearsky, gesturing to his shoulder. “He tries to comfort me.”

In that simple gesture, lies the essence of Clearsky’s amazing journey. From a frightened 12-year-old running from institutional cruelty to a respected leader finding solace in the trust of a horse, his story embodies resilience, connection to tradition, and the enduring bond between Indigenous peoples and horses.