Residential school survivors says Murray Sinclair made them feel heard.
Sinclair, a former judge, senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into residential schools, died Monday in a Winnipeg hospital at the age of 73.
Sinclair’s family says he affected thousands of people, and they’re encouraging the public to celebrate his life and journey home in a good way.
The tributes planned include a memorial this weekend at Winnipeg’s downtown arena.
As well, a teepee and a sacred fire have already been set up outside the Manitoba Legislature for people to pay their respects.
Geraldine Shingoose says she went to the sacred fire to show gratitude for Sinclair’s work and support for his family.
She attended the Muscowequan residential school in Saskatchewan from 1962 to 1971, and shared that experience with Sinclair as part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Vancouver in 2013.
She says Sinclair’s death is a huge loss, and he was special to many across the country.
“He carried us through the TRC, all those years, as survivors,” she told CBC News on Tuesday.
“He listened to our stories, and then he documented them and he made [them] real. He shared our truth and that’s the way I want to remember him.”
Shingoose says she could feel Sinclair’s love for his family during his work with the TRC, but “also for the people, the communities and the nations. He just wanted to make things right.”
“He helped us out so much. He supported us so much.”
‘He left a roadmap for us’
Vivian Ketchum, who attended Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School Memorial in Kenora, Ont., says she went to the TRC’s closing event in Ottawa nearly a decade ago and heard Sinclair’s closing speech.
“When I heard him, I felt like I was being protected, I was being seen [and] heard,” she said Tuesday.
“In residential school, there [were] bullies, and you always had to have older siblings watch over you, and that’s how I felt about him.”
Ketchum went to the sacred fire to pay her respects and to renew her commitment to sharing her experience as a residential school survivor, she said. She shared tobacco, stories and laughs with other people there.
“I think he would have loved that. We’re laughing, crying. I think that’s really good for us.”
She described Sinclair as funny, wise and protective.
“I’m sad that he passed, but he left a roadmap for us with those 94 Calls to Action. Those calls to action are for everybody, even for me as a residential school survivor.”
Melvin Swan, a retired corporal, says he testified before Sinclair when he was co-commissioner of Manitoba’s 1988 Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, which highlighted the need to take Indigenous offenders’ history into account when sentencing.
“My impression of him was, ‘Neat, we have a First Nations judge,'” Swan said.
He said Sinclair was an especially gifted man who worked hard for his people.
“I commend that, and he should be remembered for such a duty,” he said. “I’m glad he’s at peace.”
Sunday memorial at downtown arena
Members of the public will also have a chance to honour Sinclair at a memorial this weekend at the Canada Life Centre.
The event, which is being organized by the federal and Manitoba governments, will be held at the downtown arena on Sunday, with a ceremony slated to begin at 2 p.m., a news release from the province on Tuesday said.
A public visitation will also be held on Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Caboto Centre on Wilkes Avenue in Winnipeg.
As well, starting Wednesday, a book of condolences will be placed at the base of the grand staircase in the Manitoba Legislative Building, which members of the public can sign through to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The flags at the Manitoba Legislative Building and Parliament in Ottawa will remain at half-mast until after the Sunday memorial, the province said.
Survivors of day schools and residential schools are paying their respects to the late Murray Sinclair. A teepee and a sacred fire have been set up outside the Manitoba Legislature and members of the public will also have a chance to honour Sinclair at a memorial this weekend at the Canada Life Centre.