As the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Senator Murray Sinclair was a key figure in raising global awareness of the atrocities of Canada’s residential school system. With determination, wisdom and kindness, Senator Sinclair remains steadfast in his belief that the path to actual reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people requires understanding and accepting often difficult truths about Canada’s past and present. Alanis Obomsawin shares the powerful speech the Senator gave when he accepted the WFM-Canada World Peace Award, interspersing the heartbreaking testimonies of former students imprisoned at residential schools. The honouring of Senator Sinclair reminds us to honour …
For most of Canada’s existence, the teaching of its history has omitted the many racist laws, horrors, abuses and genocide perpetrated on the Indigenous Peoples of this land. This mini-lesson follows Murray Sinclair as he demonstrates that the colonial narrative that shaped Canada’s version of history tokenized, dehumanized and erased the many contributions and innovations of Indigenous Peoples and their key role in shaping what is now known as Canada.