Author Archives: Senator Murray Sinclair

About Senator Murray Sinclair

Canadian Senator Formerly Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba and recent Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

Reconciliation: the Role of Education

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was formed as a result of the largest class action lawsuit in the history of Canada. It is an entity created by the court-approved Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement reached in 2007. The Settlement Agreement … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Commitment is needed by everyone.

People who have heard me speak about reconciliation, often say they do not support it because they are angry at this government. I understand that. I have said many times that reconciliation will not be achieved in my lifetime, nor … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

The cloak of life is not a can of paint

God’s eyes were not closed when our people were created. His head was not turned. Nor his thoughts far away on a task of more importance. His mind was not distracted, Nor his heart locked away in a dark uncaring … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

On Doing What I Do and How.

A behavioural psychologist once warned me that when I speak publicly, I speak too aggressively and that one sign of that was that I often pointed. She said that pointing was an act of aggression and that it put people … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

On Dealing With the Pain

Every little whileWhen I’m aloneI find a placeA quiet placeAnd take some timeFor me.I find a placeWhere trees and grassEmbrace the soulAnd soothe the fleshWhere wind creates a gentle calmAnd water whispers loving soundsLike Kookum singing softly in the night. It’s then … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Surviving

The word “Survivor” was one that troubled me at the outset of the work of the TRC because it sounded like a word that referred to “just getting by”. I preferred to think of the many who were “thrivers” and … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Tribute to Judge Robert Kopstein.

This Sunday morning, I got up early in order to attend a morning funeral service at a local synagogue for a dear friend, Judge Robert Kopstein who passed away on Friday from lung cancer. Bob was my assigned mentor when … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments