The Current The brightness and beauty of being indigenous
Dec 15, 2025
Join Stephanie Sinclair, a passionate publisher at McClelland & Stewart, Sarah Sinclair, an insightful oral historian, and Niigaan Sinclair, a dedicated columnist and professor, as they reflect on the legacy of their father, Murray Sinclair. They delve into the importance of storytelling in Indigenous culture and share personal family histories that highlight resilience and joy. Niigaan emphasizes the need for love and meaningful action in reconciliation, while the sisters discuss their anthologies aimed at bridging generational gaps through accessible narratives.
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Endurance As Brightness
- Indigenous identity endures despite sustained attempts to erase culture and language.
- Sarah Sinclair calls this endurance a "steady brightness of being" rooted in land and community.
A Parenting Conversation That Surprised
- Stephanie Sinclair tried preparing her son for school conversations about September 30th and thought she succeeded.
- The teacher told her he later said, "I went to residential school when I was three," revealing the complexity of explaining intergenerational trauma to children.
Family Memory And Hidden Shame
- Sarah Sinclair recalls fragmented family knowledge about their Indigenous roots and her grandfather's residential school trauma.
- She describes Murray realizing his identity during a childhood game and Elmer Sinclair raising sons as altar boys while hiding cultural shame.
