(nee: Sinclair)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of beloved wife, mother, grandmother, chapan, aunt and sister Sarah Nellie Morrisseau at the age of 86.
Nellie was a woman of great faith who lived a life of spirituality and commitment to her family and to the greater community. She was a faithful member of the Anglican Church and also honoured Indigenous spirituality and believed in both paths to connect to the Creator and the spirit world.
She lived to make the world a better place, not just for her family but for all.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, MB to a Metis/Cree family that lived off the land. She loved her home community and with the support of her husband John returned to live out the remainder of their retirement years on land that has been in the Sinclair family since before Canada came into existence. Outside of her family that was the one thing that she cherished above all, the Sinclair family land.
She left home at the age of 17 to go and work in The Pas, she travelled by canoe up the Saskatchewan River, as this was in the days before a road was built to the community. She met her husband John in 1959 they were married on August 10, 1960.
Her commitment to community and her hard work and perseverance inspired others, while her sense of humor brightened even the darkest days. Her legacy lives on in the memories and stories shared by friends, family, and colleagues.
She will be deeply missed, but her influence remains ever-present. She worked to build the Manitoba Metis Federation and would support her husband as President of that organization. She helped to build the New Democratic Party in Manitoba, even risking her life. When campaigning for the NDP, the engines failed in the bush plane she was travelling in and crashed into the water and after making it to shore, she and the pilot had to wait for nearly a week for help to arrive.
She was not afraid to fight against racist treatment once laying on the railway tracks to block trains and protest the lack of Indigenous people hired by CN rail. She was a fighter for the people and sat in the whites only section of Lido Theatre in The Pas because she would not take a backseat to anyone.
In the summer of 2006 at the age of 67 she camped on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature for 46 days to protest the destruction of the traditional lands and waters by the construction of the Grand Rapids Dam by Manitoba Hydro in the early 1960’s. Her protest was to bring attention to the lack of a fair settlement for the Metis original residents for loss of land and way of life. Her husband John was by her side the whole time. She left with an agreement from the provincial government to research and negotiate a fair settlement, but it was never achieved in her lifetime.
Nellie is survived by her husband of 65 years John.
Her son Merle and his daughter Jessica, (Marc) and his grandchildren Cashton, Bella, Aiden and Parker.
Her daughter Michele and her son Nicholas (Evelyn) and daughter Sierra.
Her son Marshall, wife Diana and daughters Danielle, Carly and sons Jake, Dylan, Marshall Jr. (Gabrielle) and their grandchildren Theodore, Mahihkan and Nipisiy.
Her son Miles, wife Shelly and their children Terese, Justin, Chelsey, Adam (Marie), Kylie (Dillon) and Wyonna and their grandchildren Dylan, Justice, Ryder, Kiowa, Ethan, Abigail and Brynn.
Her son Monty and daughters Keisha (Ryan), Alley, and twins Lynnea and Savannah (Chad) and his grandchildren Brooklynn, Oaklyn, Aria, Palmer and Khloe.
Her daughter Melissa and daughters Lydia (Terrance) and Raven and her grandchildren Finley, Abel, Mila and Noah.
Her sisters Barbara and Rosalie and their children. She is also mourned by many nephews and nieces from the Sinclair and Morrisseau families as well as numerous relations from her large extended family. She will be missed dearly by her many friends and acquaintances she made over the years.
She is predeceased by her parents Stanley and Lydia. Her brothers, Frederick, Hubert, Norman and Donald and her grandson Zackary.
Wake Services:
Thursday, February 12, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Kateri Parish, 265 Flora Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Friday, February 13, 2026 at the MCN Ininiwikamihk Cultural Centre, Grand Rapids, Manitoba. Hearse will be leaving Ashern at 1:00 p.m.
Funeral Service: Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the MCN Ininiwikamihk Cultural Centre, Grand Rapids, Manitoba.
Officiant: Rev. Steve Martin
Interment: St. James Anglican Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Manitoba
Pallbearers: Cashton Morrisseau, Nicholas Morrisseau, Jake Morrisseau, Miles Morrisseau, Monty Morrisseau and Terrance DeLaronde
Our mom’s wishes was that people wear bright clothes she did not want everyone in black clothing. It is a celebration of her life with the people she loved.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
Dance, I hope you dance (dance).
