Tributes honouring Mi'kmaq activist, Donald Marshall after his death is announced
AFN press release ...
National Chief Pays Tribute to late Donald Marshall
OTTAWA, Aug. 6 /CNW Telbec/ - National Chief Shawn Atleo expressed sorrow at this morning's passing of Donald Marshall, a Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq activist who made an enormous contribution in advancing First Nations rights.
"Donald Marshall is an individual who forever changed the legal landscape in terms of how Canada must deal fairly and justly with Aboriginal and First Nations' human and Treaty rights," said National Chief Atleo. "In 1971, Mr.
Marshall was wrongfully convicted of murder and served many years in prison. A subsequent Royal Commission found that he was an innocent victim of racism.
"In 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of Mr. Marshall, who had been charged with fishing out of season. The Supreme Court recognized that the Treaties of 1760-61 affirmed the Mi'kmaq right to sell fish to earn a moderate livelihood. This landmark ruling has been cited in countless cases involving Treaty rights over the past decade," said National Chief Atleo.
In May, 2000, Mr. Marshall received the Wolf Award for his courageous efforts in creating awareness about issues of systemic and overt racism, particularly with respect to Aboriginal peoples and the justice system and for his efforts to promote mutual respect between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples through outreach to youth, communities and to justice system representatives.
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
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/For further information: During this transitional period media enquiries should be directed to media@afn.ca; Robert Simpson, (778) 991-1407; Chantelle Krish, (778) 990-9544/
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A Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq icon and the man at the centre of one of Canada’s highest profile wrongful conviction cases has died.
Donald Marshall was 55.
His sister, Roseanne Sylvester confirmed Thursday the native activist died at around 1:30 a.m. at a hospital in Sydney, N.S.
Marshall’s nephew Glen Gould also confirmed the death in a statement posted on his Facebook site.
“Thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers. My uncle Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by family,” the post said. “I love you uncle and will miss you dearly. RIP Jr.”
Marshall was admitted to hospital several days ago and his family confirmed he was terminally ill.
He underwent a double lung transplant six years ago.
Marshall spent 11 years in prison after being convicted — at age 17 — of murder in the 1971 stabbing death of Sandy Seale in Sydney, N.S.
He was released in 1982 after RCMP reviewed the case and was acquitted in 1983.
Roy Ebsary, an eccentric who bragged of having a prowess with knives, was eventually convicted of manslaughter in Seale’s death and spent a year in jail.