Assembly of First Nations Mourns the Loss of Treaty Rights Champion, Jim Sinclair
November 12, 2012
(Ottawa, ON) –Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo issued the following statement today on the passing of Jim Sinclair, born in Punnichy (SK), died at the age of 79 years old following a courageous battle against cancer.
“On behalf of the Assembly of First Nations, our AFN Executive and First Nations across the country, I want to extend our sincere condolences to the Sinclair family, especially his wife Bernice, 6 children, 20 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who loved and cherished Jim Sinclair. Jim was recently honored by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations for 50 years of work on the advancement of First Nations rights.
I last spoke and visited with Jim this past summer. I will dearly miss those inspiring talks, all of his good advice and overall wisdom. He will be remembered throughout history by his strong values, his leadership skills and stubbornness in his dealings with governments. Over the past two years, he was instrumental in the advancement of the AFN National Strategy on Treaty Implementation. His knowledge of our history, traditional ways and teachings were critical to our discussions with Treaty nations, leaders, and citizens.
He was one of those first hard-nosed Indigenous politicians, unafraid of hard negotiation and willing to go the extra mile to make sure his people's rights were respected. We still remember vividly his 1982 fight to have First Nation, Métis and Inuit rights recognized in the Constitution Act, as well as his encounters with the Pope and Her Majesty, the Queen on behalf of our peoples.
His insight, strength and commitment to his people will be greatly missed. He was also instrumental in the advancement of many issues such as Treaty implementation, housing, the fight against institutional racism, land rights, hunting, fishing, and trapping rights, and education.”
Jim Sinclair entered politics in 1967 with the Métis Society of Saskatchewan and became its President in 1971, for a total of 18 years. He was also President of the Association of Métis and Non-Status Indians of Saskatchewan (AMNSIS).
He established the Native Council of Canada (known now as the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples) and was President from 1994 to 1996. Since 1996, he was still President of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples of Saskatchewan. Jim Sinclair has a long list of other accomplishments in creating many institutions in Saskatchewan such as the Gabriel Dumont Institute, the Saskatchewan Native Economic Development Corporation, the Saskatchewan Native Addictions Centre and the Urban Native Housing Corporations and Provincial Métis Housing Corporation.
Jim Sinclair was awarded the Order of the Métis Nation in 2004. He was honoured by the FSIN last October 25, 2012.
A wake will take place on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 (6 PM CST) and the funeral will be celebrated on Thursday November 15, 2012 (10 AM CST). Both the wake and the funeral will take place at Banner Hall, at Evraz Place (Regina Exhibitions Grounds) in Regina.
After the services, Jim Sinclair will then be taken to his final resting place at George Gordon First Nation, south of Punnichy (SK), to be laid to rest next to his son Kenny.
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. Follow us on Twitter @AFN_Updates, @AFN_Comms
-30-
For more information please contact:
Jenna Young, AFN Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 401 or cell: 613-314-8157 or e-mail jyoung@afn.ca
Alain Garon AFN Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 382; 613-292-0857 or agaron@afn.ca
