Marion Buller facts for kids

Marion R. Buller is a remarkable First Nations leader. She is a retired judge and a lawyer. Currently, she serves as the leader, or chancellor, of the University of Victoria. From 2016 to 2019, Ms. Buller was the Chief Commissioner for an important study called the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Marion Buller is a member of the Mistawasis First Nation. In 1994, she made history as the first First Nations woman to become a judge in the Provincial Court of British Columbia. She worked in courts all over British Columbia. She also helped create special courts, like the First Nations Courts of British Columbia in 2006. These courts use traditional ways to help people heal. She also helped start the Aboriginal Family Healing Court in 2016. Ms. Buller has written many articles about law and human rights. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Her Journey in Law

Marion Buller studied at the University of Victoria. She earned a degree in Anthropology in 1975. Later, she got her law degree in 1987. Her career in law has been very important. She helped many groups that work for Indigenous rights, women's rights, and human rights.

From 1988 to 1994, Ms. Buller worked as a lawyer in British Columbia. She handled both civil and criminal cases. In 1994, she became a judge in the Provincial Court. This made her the first Indigenous woman judge in British Columbia.

During her time in law, Ms. Buller led the Indigenous Bar Association of Canada. This group helps First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people who work in law. She also helped other groups, like the B.C. Police Commission.

In 2006, Judge Buller helped create the First Nations Court of British Columbia. This court helps people who have committed crimes. It uses special ways to help them heal and find balance. She also helped start the Aboriginal Family Healing Court. This court works to help Indigenous children return to their families. Ms. Buller has written many papers about fairness in the justice system. She also helped with the Cariboo-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry. This inquiry looked at how the justice system worked for the Cariboo-Chilcotin people.

In 2016, Ms. Buller retired as a judge. After retiring, she was chosen to lead the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This inquiry looked into why so many Indigenous women and girls were going missing or being harmed in Canada. As the leader, Ms. Buller helped write the final report. The report, called Reclaiming Power and Place, looked at the reasons for violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada.

In 2021, Ms. Buller became the 12th chancellor of the University of Victoria. She started this role on January 1, 2022.

Important Work for Indigenous Women and Girls

On December 8, 2015, the Canadian government announced the start of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The inquiry was meant to finish by the end of 2018. However, Chief Commissioner Buller asked for more time.

The final report was released on June 3, 2019. It found that the violence against Indigenous women and girls was caused by what the government did or did not do. In the report, Commissioner Buller described this violence as a "deliberate, race, identity and gender-based genocide". This means it was a serious and harmful problem based on who people are. There were some criticisms of the inquiry. One was that the government did not give the full two-year extension that Ms. Buller asked for. She felt this was another sad part of this national tragedy.

Awards and Recognition

Marion Buller has received many awards for her important work.

• In 2012, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Victoria.
• In 2016, Maclean's magazine named her as one of six people who could greatly influence government policy.
• She received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. This award honors Canadians who show great leadership.
• She also received a Diamond Jubilee Medal. This award recognizes Canadians who have made big contributions to the country.
• Marion Buller received the Rosemary Brown Award for Women. This award honors women in British Columbia who follow the values of Rosemary Brown.
• She also received the Vancouver YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Reconciliation in Action.

In 2021, Thompson Rivers University gave Ms. Buller an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. In 2022, Lakehead University also gave her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. That same year, she was appointed to the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian can receive.