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.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Niigaan Sinclair grew up in Selkirk, Manitoba. His father was Murray Sinclair, a well-known judge and senator.
Niigaan studied at several universities. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Winnipeg. Later, he received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. He also completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of British Columbia. His studies focused on Indigenous and American literatures.
Career Highlights
Niigaan Sinclair is a professor at the University of Manitoba. He leads the Department of Native Studies there. He also holds a special position focusing on Indigenous knowledge and art.
He has helped edit several important books. These include Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water (2011). Another is Centering Anishinaabeg Studies: Understanding the World Through Stories (2013). He also wrote parts of Winter We Danced: Voices of the Past, the Future, and the Idle No More Movement (2014).
Sinclair is also a journalist for the Winnipeg Free Press. He used to be a high school teacher. He is also a captain with the Mama Bear Clan patrol. This group helps keep communities safe in Winnipeg.
Public Speaking and Awards
Niigaan Sinclair is a popular public speaker. He often shares his thoughts on Indigenous issues in the media. Maclean’s magazine named him one of Canada's most influential people.
He helped organize events for the Idle No More movement in Winnipeg. This movement works to protect Indigenous rights and the environment. He often talks about Indigenous topics on TV channels like CTV, CBC, and APTN.
In 2018, he won Canadian Columnist of the Year. This award 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. Monocle Magazine also named him one of Canada’s top 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.
Books and Contributions
Niigaan Sinclair has written and edited several books.
Graphic Novels
- Redcoats-ish (2014)
- The Loxleys and Confederation (2015)
- Redcoats-ish 2 (2018)
Editorial Work
- Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water (2011)
- Centering Anishinaabeg studies: Understanding the world through stories (2017)
- Impact: Colonialism in Canada (2017)
- Indigenous nationhood: Empowering grassroots citizens (2015)
