About the Honourable Murray Sinclair, C.C., O.M., M.S.C., K.C.

An advocate, guide, and teacher, the Honourable Murray Sinclair dedicated his life to giving a voice to First Nations, Inuit and Metis and to fostering understanding, compassion, and reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous people in Canada. He was a tireless defender of people’s rights and dignity, working both within the courtroom and in society at large to further the cause of justice for all, and for Indigenous Peoples in particular.

A member of Peguis First Nation, Murray Sinclair was born in 1951 in the former St. Peter’s Indian Reserve and grew up in the Selkirk area north of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was a promising and dedicated student, attending the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law and graduating in 1979. He was called to the bar in 1980 and in 1988, became an Associate Chief Judge in the Provincial Court of Manitoba. He was the first Indigenous judge in the province, and the second in Canada.

From the very start of his career as a judge, Murray Sinclair focused on defending the rights of Indigenous people. Appointed as co-commissioner of Manitoba’s Aboriginal Justice Inquiry from 1988 to 1991, he contributed to laying bare the inequities and systemic discrimination endured by Indigenous people within the Canadian justice system. Murray Sinclair’s recommendations represented the start of a re-evaluation of judicial practices, including a greater consideration of Indigenous offenders’ backgrounds and circumstances when applying sentencing, later enshrined in the Gladue principles in 1996.

In 2001, Murray Sinclair became the first Indigenous judge appointed to the Court of King’s Bench (then Queen’s Bench), the highest trial court in Manitoba. His leadership in the area of Indigenous justice took on a national dimension when, in 2009, he was appointed chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). Over six years, this work shed light on one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history and the devastating legacy of Canada’s Indian residential school system which continues to this day. The resulting 94 Calls to Action in the TRC’s final report provided a blueprint for redefining Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples.

Murray Sinclair was appointed as a Senator from 2016 until 2021, before being installed as chancellor of Queen’s University for a three-year term from 2021 to 2024. His remarkable career and accomplishments were recognized with numerous awards during his lifetime, notably his appointment as Companion of the Order of Canada (2022) and as a member of the Order of Manitoba (2024), his King’s Counsel designation (2024), and more than 30 honorary doctorates.

His compassionate guidance and leadership steered our country towards a better future.