b'MURRAY SINCLAIRThe road we travel is equal in importance to the destination we seek. There are no shortcuts. When it comes to truth and reconciliation, we are forced to go the distance.- Murray SinclairSinclair was also head of the PediatricJuly 2021 to June 2024, oversaw the nego- passing. He kept saying to me, take care Cardiac Surgery Inquest at the Winnipegtiations for federal settlement compen- of yourself, you dont want to be this way, Health Sciences Centre, and in Januarysating Indigenous children and familiesNiigaan shared, describing a conversation 2001, became the first Indigenous judgefor unfair treatment in the Canadian childwith his father about their similar journeys. appointed to the Court of Queens Benchwelfare system in 2023, and continued hisHe was suffering so much from not just of Manitoba. mentorship of young lawyers throughout. the physical trauma of doing this work In 2007, Sinclair was approached toAs Niigaan emphasized at his fathersbut also the nightmares, the hard times chair the newly founded Truth andmemorial, the significant work of Mazinaat night when he would remember the Reconciliation Commission, but initiallyGiizhik-iban meant personal sacrifices forstories that he would hear, or the hard denied the position in anticipationcollective change. For a long time, Ivetimes that he had on the road.of the significant emotional toll thatbeen very angry at you, Canada, NiigaanNiigaan asked his father why he did this would accompany the role. However,expressed. Im angry that he was oftenwork, and why he persisted despite the toll he was asked again in 2009 and thisthe lone voice of dignity against a wallit took and the sacrifices it required. He time agreed, with the condition thatof callousness, and that he would worksaid, just simply, I was called.the commission function via consensusoften with leaders who would treat human rather than majority-rule capacity. In thebeings so poorly. Im angry that he didntSince 2018, the front entrance to the early years of this work, Sinclair initiatedspend time doing what he loved to do,Queens University Faculty of Law building significant policy changes for the commis- carpentry, and that he missed most of ourhas carried Sinclairs reminder from his sion, including moving headquarterslives as we gifted him to a country whotenure as Chief Commissioner of the TRC: from Ottawa to Winnipeg, removingdidnt always treat him as a gift. The road we travel is equal in import-accountability requirements of the TRCance to the destination we seek. There chair to the Department of Indian andWe have watched our parents spend theirare no shortcuts. When it comes to truth Northern Affairs Canada, and ensuringlifetimes fighting racism and violenceand reconciliation, we are forced to go fair representation through relationship- and genocide, Niigaan continued. Our building with Canadian churches.parents spent time fighting institutionsthe distance. As Niigaan shared at the and laws when we really wanted them tomemorial, [The TRC] calls to action give In 2016, Murray Sinclair was appointed[] be with us to help us grow up. Weus all a path forward and work to do.to the role of Senator for the Provinceknow that they were doing that, though, to of Manitoba. Until his retirement fromhelp create safe places to live, clean waterThe Honourable Murray Sinclairson, Senate in 2021, he sat on a variety ofto drink and languages to speak. father, grandfather, mentor, educator Standing Committees and continued toand changemakerlives on in collective work diligently for justice and IndigenousNiigaan, who has followed in his fathersmemory and vision, the immeasurable rights. Retirement did not slow Sinclairsfootsteps and works as a writer, activistimpact of his work rippling out into tides contributions: he held the position asand educator, conversed frequently withof healing and hope for people across Chancellor of Queens University fromhis father in the months leading up to histhe country. TRADES | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | SKILLS TRAINING 16 SUNRISE COURT, OHSWEKENON@OSTTC @OSTTC.sn T: 519-445-1515|OSTTC.COM42Fall/Winter 2024'