Biography
Dr. Julien is a Mi’kmaw Historian, Human Rights Advocate, and Leader. With over 51 years of experience researching and documenting Mi’kmaw history, Donald shares his knowledge and experiences through speaking engagements, University Lectures, and research papers. His lifelong advocacy has also helped to preserve important archaeological sites in Nova Scotia. No matter the topic, Donald brings a well-grounded, informed, and unique Mi’kmaw perspective to current issues.
Donald has 34 years of experience with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, and has held the position of Executive Director of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq since 1994. Donald is a member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia. He has earned the United Nations Peace Keeping Medal (Cyprus), the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals, also received his first Canadian Decoration the C.D. after twelve years of combined service. He has received three Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Civil Laws and Humane Letters Acadia University and Mount St. Vincent Universities and Honorary Doctorate Degree in Civil Laws from St. Mary’s University respectively.
Donald is a peace time veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, has served with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, in both the Second Battalion in Calgary, and with the First Battalion in Esquimalt, and has served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Tour in Cyprus. He has also served in Norway with the Canadian Ace Mobile Force in 1968 with the First Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. Donald is presently serving on Community Liaison Advisory Committee for Maritime Command for the Admiral of Canadian Navy. Don has been appointed as Advisory Member of the Chief of Defense Staff for the Canadian Forces in 2020. He has been an Advisor to the Commissioners of the RCMP and the Advisor to the Auditor General of Canada on First Nations Issues.
In 2012, he donned the Canadian Army uniform once again becoming the third Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of 3 Intelligence Company at the very same location where he signed on 45 years earlier. In 2016, he was appointed Full Colonel to 5th CDTC, Gagetown N.B., for another three year term as the first honorary colonel to a Canadian Army Training Centre in Canada. In December of 2020 Don has been recently re-appointed for additional three year term with 5th. Canadian Division Training Centre at CFB Gagetown N.B. as their Honorary Colonel,
Donald is a family man, and currently lives in Truro, Nova Scotia along with his wife Diane and four children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. In his spare time Donald is a sports enthusiast, an avid golfer and enjoys reading and researching history.