HONORABLE GRAYDON NICHOLAS

Honorable Graydon Nicholas is from the Maliseet Nation and was born and raised on the Tobique Indian Reserve, New Brunswick. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Math) from St. Francis Xavier University (1968) in Antigonish, N.S., a Bachelor of Law from the University of New Brunswick Law School (1971) in Fredericton, N.B., and a Masters of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University (1974) in Waterloo, Ontario.He was awarded an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from St.Francis Xavier University in 1994 and from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2002.

He returned to Fredericton, N.B. to work with the Union of New Brunswick Indians in 1974 as a Researcher, Policy Analyst, Legal Adviser and was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1976-1980. He was elected as President from 1980-1988. He defended Indian people in the Criminal, Family and Civil Courts. The concentration was on Treaty and Aboriginal Rights, Land Claims and Constitutional Rights. He was the first Aboriginal person to obtain a Law Degree in Atlantic Canada.

He worked extensively in the field of Indigenous political development at the regional, national and international levels and maintains a keen interest in these areas.

Mr. Nicholas was appointed to the CHAIR OF NATIVE STUDIES at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. in January 1, 1989. He and his wife, Elizabeth,are the parents of two sons and have one grandson. He and his wife are active in the Christian Life Community (C.L.C.).

He was appointed as a Provincial Court Judge on May 31, 1991. He sits in Fredericton, NB. He lectured at the Vancouver School of Theology in the Native Ministries Consortium program in 1999-2001.

Judge Nicholas was awarded the New Brunswick Human Rights Award in December, 1991, and a Recipient of The Peace Medallion from the Fredericton YMCA in November, 1992. He is a recipient of the Canada 125 Medal. He was awarded the Inaugural Golden Jubilee Medal on June 29, 2002. He was the recipient of the Benemerenti Pontifical Medal by the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, in September 2008 in recognition of his involvement with the Aboriginal Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1998-2007. He has been very active in promoting the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Atlantic Canada. He is a member of the Board of Governors of St. Thomas University.