Donald Nicholls, BCL, JD (Cree Nation)

Donald Nicholls is a member of the Cree Nation of Mistissini. He has a degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario, a common law degree from University of Toronto and a civil law degree from McGill University. He was a graduate of the inaugural class of the Masters of Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program at the University of Arizona. Over the course of his career, Mr. Nicholls has worked on rights-based actions and projects in Latin America, North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. Nicholls is presently the director of justice and correctional services for the Cree Nation government. His department provides programming and frontline services, and develops partnerships to ensure a community of support for individuals and groups going through substance use and addictions issues. He also serves on the boards of the Provincial Organizations for Victims Support Services, Quebec's Provincial Organization for Aboriginal Court Workers, the Knowledge Mobilization Institute and the Healthy Aboriginal Network.​

Mr. Nicholls has worked with the Quebec courts and ​Ministry of Justice to implement specialized courts related to substance use disorders. He has also been involved in projects that bring Indigenous people back to the land for treatment of substance use issues. He was the recent recipient of the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution's Batsinduka Award for Peace for the innovative work he has engaged in the area of conflict resolution and mediation, and a Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada for his work with children and youth.

Mr. Nicholls has been a member of the Board since 2018, and serves as a member of the Finance Committee.​​