United Way Winnipeg is deeply saddened at the loss of community champion Murray Sinclair.
Our hearts are with Murray Sinclair’s family, friends, and loved ones. Many communities have lost a deeply passionate leader and advocate of transformative healing and change.
United Way Winnipeg was honoured to work with Murray Sinclair on ‘Journey Forward’ more than twenty years ago. The ‘Journey Forward’ process and document were formative in guiding and enriching our collaboration with Indigenous communities. We were also grateful to have him bring opening remarks at our 2013 exhibit of 100 Years of Loss—the Residential School System in Canada, a bilingual display featuring collections from the Legacy of Hope Foundation.
Murray Sinclair will be remembered for his groundbreaking appointment as the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba, his later appointment to the Senate of Canada, and, of course, his crucial work as Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Under his leadership, the TRC released 94 Calls to Action that are currently reshaping Canada. Murray Sinclair made it clear that living out the Calls is everyone’s responsibility, and while it requires considerable work, it is important to the healing of our country. As he said, “We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you the way to the top. We call on you to do the climbing.”
