by Daniel N. Paul, CM, ONS, Mi’kmaw Elder & Historian

Donald Marshall Jr: 1971: Wrongful Murder Conviction

My personal tribute to a man of great courage, the late Donald Marshall Jr.

The determination the late Donald Jr. and his late father Grand Chief Donald Marshall Sr. displayed in proving his innocence and finding justice for him never wavered throughout his wrongful conviction ordeal, it was rock solid. They finally persevered and, as history relates, Jr. was exonerated.

The outing of the systemic racism prevalent in Nova Scotia, and Canadian society in general, that was responsible for Donald’s wrongful conviction in 1971, has been, and still is, and will continue to be, the most positive outcome from his horrific ordeal. The revelations turned the Canadian and Nova Scotia justice systems on their heads, and caused major reform in both systems. The reforms have made it far less likely that another First Nation Person will be convicted in Canada of a major crime because of his/her racial origins.

For their courage in taking on the Nova Scotia’s Justice system, a formidable opponent, and causing such great positive change in it, we owe Donald Jr. and Sr. a great debt. Springing from it we have a binding obligation to pick up the mantel and continue the battle against systemic racism until such time as it becomes a sour memory.

I have a suggestion to make, that I’m sure would honour Donald’s memory properly, and please him tremendously. There is a Cornwallis park in Halifax, whi ...

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