Niigaan Sinclair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair
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| Occupation | Writer, editor, and activist |
| Nationality | Anishinaabe-Canadian |
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Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, often called Niigaan Sinclair, is an Anishinaabe writer, editor, and activist. He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is known for his work in writing, teaching, and speaking about Indigenous issues.
Early Life and Learning
Niigaan Sinclair grew up in Selkirk, Manitoba. His father was Murray Sinclair, a well-known judge and senator.
Niigaan went to several universities for his education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Winnipeg. Then, he got a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. He studied Native and African-American literatures there. Later, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of British Columbia. His PhD focused on First Nations and American literatures.
His Work and Achievements
Niigaan Sinclair is a professor at the University of Manitoba. He leads the Department of Native Studies. He also holds a special position focusing on Indigenous knowledge and art.
He has helped edit and write several important books. These include Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water and Centering Anishinaabeg Studies: Understanding the World Through Stories. He also contributed to Winter We Danced, a book about the Idle No More movement. This movement was a series of protests by Indigenous peoples in Canada. Niigaan has also written several graphic novels.
Besides his academic work, Niigaan is a journalist for the Winnipeg Free Press. He used to be a high school teacher. He also volunteers as a captain with the Mama Bear Clan patrol. This group helps keep the community safe in North Point Douglas, Winnipeg.
Niigaan is a popular public speaker and often shares his thoughts in the media. Maclean’s magazine named him one of Canada's most influential people. He helped organize Idle No More events in Winnipeg. He often talks about Indigenous issues on TV channels like CTV, CBC, and APTN.
In 2018, he won the Canadian Columnist of the Year award. This was for his articles in The Winnipeg Free Press. He is also a regular guest on CBC's Power & Politics show. In 2019, he received the Peace Educator of the Year award. This award came from the Peace and Justice Studies Association in Washington, DC. Monocle Magazine also named him one of "Canada’s Top 20 Most Influential People."
His book Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre won a major award. It received the Governor General's Award for English-language non-fiction in 2024.
Graphic Novels
- Redcoats-ish (Renegade Arts Entertainment, 2014)
- The Loxleys and Confederation (Renegades Arts Entertainment, 2015)
- Redcoats-ish 2 (Renegade Arts Entertainment, 2018)
Books He Helped Edit
- Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water (Highwater Press, 2011)
- Centering Anishinaabeg studies: Understanding the world through stories (University of Manitoba Press, 2017)
- Impact: Colonialism in Canada (Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, 2017)
- Indigenous nationhood: Empowering grassroots citizens (Fernwood Publishing, 2015)
