Donald Marshall; Grand Chief of Micmac Indian Nation

Donald Marshall, 66, longtime grand chief of the Micmac Indian nation. He was named grand chief in 1965, making him spiritual leader for about 30,000 Micmacs in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and parts of New Brunswick, Quebec, Newfoundland and New England. Marshall was best known outside the native community for the wrongful imprisonment of his eldest son, Donald Jr., for a murder in 1971. After spending 11 years in prison, the younger Marshall won his battle to prove he did not kill Sandy Seale in a Sydney, Nova Scotia, park. Another man, Roy Ebsary, was eventually convicted of manslaughter in the case and served a year in jail. The case led to an investigation that brought about changes in Nova Scotia’s justice system. It also awarded lifelong compensation to Marshall and his parents. On Sunday in Sydney of cancer.