Murray Sinclair (Mizanay Gheezhik) (Ojibway ) 1951 -
He is a Canadian judge, First Nations lawyer, and the current Chair of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He is the first Aboriginal judge appointed in Manitoba. After serving as Special Assistant to the Attorney General of Manitoba, Sinclair continued his academic career at University of Winnipeg, studying sociology and history. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba in 1979.
Sinclair practiced primarily in the fields of Civil and Criminal Litigation Human Rights and Aboriginal Law. He represented a cross section of clients but by the time of his judicial appointment, was known for his representation of Aboriginal people and his knowledge of Aboriginal legal issues.
Justice Sinclair was appointed Co-Commissioner, along with Court of Queen's Bench Associate Chief Justice A. C. Hamilton, of Manitoba's Public Inquiry into the Administration of Justice and Aboriginal People (The Aboriginal Justice Inquiry). Sinclair has also served as legal counsel for the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.
Justice Sinclair was appointed Chair of Canada's Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission in June 2009. The Commission’s mandate was to inform all Canadians about what happened in Indian Residential Schools and document the accounts of survivors, families, communities and anyone personally affected by the Indian Residential Schools experience. Upon closing in June 2015, the commission issued a report identifying 94 "Calls to Action" to "redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation."
Justice Sinclair has served on numerous community boards including The Canadian Club, The Canadian Native Law Students Association, The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, and The Board of Regents of The University of Winnipeg.
He is married to Katherine Morrisseau-Sinclair, and they have four children together.
