Author Archives: Senator Murray Sinclair (retired)

About Senator Murray Sinclair (retired)

Ojibway Anishinaabe Inini Mizhanagheezhik (n’dizhinikaaz) Namiigoonse (n’dodem) Lawyer, Mediator, Public Speaker Currently Canadian Senator for Manitoba Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba (2001-2016) Associate Chief Judge off the Manitoba Provincial Court) (1988-2001) Co-Commissioner of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba) (1988-91) Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Inquiry Judge (1997-2000) Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2009-2015) Thinker, poet, writer, philosopher, speaker.

What will it take to resolve BC Pipeline dispute?

The rule of law is an important consideration in this dispute. Has Canada complied with its own legal requirements? That’s a question that has largely been ignored in the issuance of injunctions in disputes such as this. Canada’s obligation to … Continue reading

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Philosophizing

If there is anything worth remembering I forget what it is I live in the moment wasting it planning for a future that will likely never be at least, not the one I want. So, instead, I suck my thumb … Continue reading

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Using Police to Belittle Indigenous Rights

I have been giving some thought to the conflicts that arise whenever pipeline expansion or developments occur in a manner that affects Indigenous people and their territories. One of the major issues centers on the use of police forces to enforce … Continue reading

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As a society, have we developed such a dependence on petroleum and gas products, that we are creating the circumstances of our own demise? There are profitable domestic markets for the oil and gas the industry ships, that is clear. … Continue reading

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Calling on Catholic Bishops to invite the Pope to apologize to IRS survivors.

This is my speech in the Senate on Senator Mary-Jane McCallum’s motion: “Motion to Call On the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops—Debate Continued On the Order: Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator McCallum, seconded by the Honourable … Continue reading

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As we grow old

As we grow old the ground we walk on rises up so that, as each of those few moments left to us pass by and we grow old and hair turns greyer still we move a bit more slowly. At … Continue reading

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Systemic Discrimination

Systemic racism is the racist effect that arises from bias built into the structure of a system. It’s the rules, policies and practices of a system that create such bias. In such a system, if you were able to get … Continue reading

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On Growing Old

At a certain point the water deepens, the ground beneath begins to shift, the earth becomes invisible each step becomes an unknown risk. You can become afraid to move, You cannot leave a game unwon important things remain for you. … Continue reading

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Colten

Today I grieve for my country. I grieve for a family that has not yet seen justice from the moment a handgunned farmer pulled the trigger and killed their son. (why does a farmer need such a gun?) I grieve … Continue reading

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Love Sucks

A Note to my angry, broken-hearted Niece, because she thinks love sucks. Love sucks? Why, yes it does, when it goes wrong It hurts and makes you cry. It fills you with despair and hate and makes you wanna die. It … Continue reading

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