Speakers anchored ceremony in Sinclair’s infamous message: “We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.”
On Jan. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., approximately 150 people gathered in Grant Hall to attend the Inaugural Chancellor Emeritus Murray Sinclair Commemorative Lecture and Portrait Unveiling. The lecture series was held in honour of the late Queen’s Chancellor Emeritus Murray Sinclair and was held a year after his passing, keeping with the widely practiced Indigenous tradition that, in the first year after passing, mourning and reflection are done privately.
Alongside the lecture series, a portrait of Sinclair was unveiled. The portrait was painted by Cree painter Kent Monkman, who was picked by Sinclair in 2024 to execute the painting.
READ MORE: Queen’s honours the one-year passing of Chancellor Emeritus Murray Sinclair
The event began with a brief introduction and welcome from Queen’s 16th Chancellor and Sinclair’s cousin, Shelagh Rogers.
Roger’s, following a land acknowledgement, introduced Elder, Member of the Bear Clan, and Cultural Advisor in the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at Queen’s, Te ho wis kwûnt Allen Doxtator, who gave a brief welcoming introduction in the Mohawk language titled “Opening in a Good Way.”
Following Doxtator’s address, Rogers gave a short speech about Sinclair, remarking on his deep commitment to dialogue and listening, as well as his great humour and sass. She also noted Sinclair’s commitment to justice, change, and a passion for making the world a better place.
“Murray was my listening idol […] He acted with great humanity and humour,” Rogers said. “Murray asks us to do more than imagine; he calls us to change this world and leave it in better shape for each next generation.”
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane then stepped on stage and spoke to Sinclair’s ability to deeply listen and converse in an “intensely personal” way. He shared that Sinclair had a unique ability to turn a seemingly regular or mundane conversation into a learning and knowledge-sharing experience.
Two lecturers followed Deane’s tribute, beginning with Niigaan Sinclair, an Anishinaabe writer, editor, professor, activist, and Murray Sinclair’s son. Niigaan spoke about the personal sacrifices Murray had to make, his difficult time in law school, his commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and how the proudest part of Murray’s identity was being Anishinaabe. He also highlighted Murray’s belief in the importance of communication.
“He didn’t put all his energy, health, commitment for nothing […] he truly believed that if we just spent enough time together, just understood one another and got each other’s backs, especially when we don’t agree, that we can do anything,” Niigaan Sinclair said.
After Niigaan’s speech, Associate Professor, Queen’s National Scholar, and Chair in Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives, Danielle Lussier, addressed the audience, honouring Sinclair’s memory with a lecture rooted in truth, reflection and progress.
Lussier urged the University to provide greater support and emphasized the broader importance of ensuring that Indigenous education isn’t carried solely by Indigenous voices, so that Indigenous communities can move beyond merely “surviving” to truly “thriving.”
“When you sit down in a meeting, ask yourself, are there Indigenous people in this room? And if not, why not?” she said. “By actively turning your mind to these questions, it might shine light on how systemically we’re excluded from these spaces.”
Finally, before the ceremony ended, Sinclair’s portrait was unveiled. The painting is titled “The Honourable Senator Emeritus Murray Sinclair.”
In an interview with The Journal following the ceremony, Rogers reflected on the importance of the reception and what she hopes to see next.
“We heard some very potent truth, and my hope is that we act on it and not leave it just for today,” she continued. “Reconciliation isn’t an event; it’s a commitment. It’s not a date, it’s a relationship.”
The commemorative lecture series will be an annual tradition at Queen’s in honour of Sinclair and continuing his conversations and efforts regarding truth and reconciliation.
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chancellor, Commemoration, Murray Sinclair
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