Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair

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 peoples requires understanding and accepting the often difficult truths about Canada’s past and present. Alanis Obomsawin shares the Senator’s powerful speech from when he received the WFM-Canada World Peace Award, interspersing the heartbreaking testimonies of former students imprisoned at residential schools. Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair reminds us to honour the lives and legacies of the tens of thousands of Indigenous children taken from their homes and cultures and — with hope — points us to a better future

Director: Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)
Canada | 2021 | 30 min
English | Documentary Medium

Renowned internationally as one of the matriarchs of Indigenous Cinema, Alanis Obomsawin is a storyteller with an extraordinary body of work and breadth of practice. Initially hired as a consultant for the National Film Board, she advocated for Indigenous representation and voice, grounded in education and honouring future generations, through her filmmaking. The Abenaki director has received numerous international honours and in 2019, was named a Companion of the Order of Canada — its highest distinction. Her work continues to inspire and connect Indigenous communities.