1942 – 2025
With his loving wife at his side, Darryl Joseph Nicholas, 83, of Nekwətkok, NB, died at the Upper River Valley Hospital (Waterville) on May 20, 2025. Darryl was born in the Tobique First Nation (Nekwətkok) in 1942 to Pauline Saulis and Andrew Nicholas Sr.. He was the fifth-born child of ten and was also known as Wewey, short for Nanewey (or fifth born).
Darryl was raised in the Wəlastəkwey language and culture. He spent much of his youth fishing, canoeing, hunting, doing odd jobs for elders, working with basket-making families, and playing baseball and hockey. He attended school on the reserve and participated in the Boy Scouts. His father worked as a mason, and his mother served several terms as a councillor. With his grandfather also serving as the chief for many years, Darryl was steeped in politics and activism throughout his youth.
Later, he attended St. Thomas High School and College in Chatham, NB, graduating with a BA (1964) and later earning a BEd (1967) and an Immersion Teacher Training Certificate(2002) from St. Thomas University in Fredericton. He also attended the Coady International Institute in Antigonish, N.S., and the Canadian Indian Youth Council summer program in Winnipeg. Darryl met Andrea Bear, the love of his life, in 1966, and they married in November of the same year at Nekwətkok.
Darryl was predeceased by his parents, Pauline and Andrew Sr.; his brothers, Andrew Nicholas Jr., Dennis Nicholas, and Allison Nicholas; and his sister, Elain Payne. He is survived by his wife Andrea; brothers Barry Nicholas, Graydon Nicholas and Timmy Nicholas; sisters Doreen Parish and Freda Jividen; children Janna Nicholas of Nekwətkok, N.B., Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie (Rick MacKenzie) of North Vancouver, B.C., Meko Nicholas (Wanda Black) of Upper Kingsclear, N.B.; and eight grandchildren.
Darryl was a well-respected educator, language teacher, counsellor and advocate. He was passionate about working for his people, and he served many First Nation communities, particularly in New Brunswick and Alberta. He led projects to design and build new schools on reserve, including at Nekwətkok. He worked for the Union of New Brunswick Indians and TRIBE Inc., served as a band councillor in Nekwətkok, and also as a counsellor for troubled youth.
As a fluent speaker of his language, for 22 years, starting in 1994, he devoted himself to what he considered his most important life’s work – teaching Wəlastəkwey at St. Thomas University. Over the years, he also taught his language in several Wəlastəkwey communities, served as the primary teacher in the adult language program at St. Mary’s, edited stories in Wəlastəkwey and translated community histories from English to Wəlastəkwey. His first stroke in the fall of 2016 slowed him a bit, but he carried on supporting new teachers in the St. Mary’s program and developing the curriculum until the spring of 2017.
Darryl and Andrea travelled widely, visiting family and friends on both sides of the border and attending conferences and meetings in support of Indigenous language protection and preservation, both nationally and internationally. He was an avid golfer, canoeist, and gardener and loved to pick sweetgrass, medicines, fiddleheads, and berries. Darryl will always be remembered for his stories and for being the funniest guy in the room. For at least 25 years, Darryl was an active member of AA, seeking out meetings wherever he went and supporting fellow members.
The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and care staff (particularly the Nekwətkok Health Programs and Services team) who took such good care of Darryl. Arrangements were entrusted to Brunswick Funeral Home, Perth-Andover. A celebration took place at the Paul Pyres Centre in Nekwətkok on July 5. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Adult Language Program at St. Mary’s, made through GoFundMe, would be greatly appreciated by the family.
