Marion Buller facts for kids

Marion R. Buller is a very important First Nations leader. She is a retired judge and a lawyer. She also serves as the head, called the Chancellor, of the University of Victoria. From 2016 to 2019, Ms. Buller was the main leader for a big study. This study looked into why so many Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or been murdered. It was 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 became the first First Nations woman to be a judge in British Columbia. She worked in courts all over B.C. She helped start special courts for First Nations people in 2006. These courts use traditional ways to help people. She also helped create a court for Indigenous families in 2016. Ms. Buller has led the Indigenous Bar Association. She has also written many articles about Indigenous law, criminal law, and human rights. She lives in Victoria, B.C.

Marion Buller's 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 create many groups that support 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 made history. She became the first Indigenous woman judge in British Columbia. This was a big step forward.

Working for Indigenous Rights

During her time as a lawyer and judge, Ms. Buller did a lot for Indigenous people. She was the president and a director of the Indigenous Bar Association of Canada. This group helps First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people who work in law. It includes judges, lawyers, and students.

Ms. Buller also worked with other important groups. These included the B.C. Police Commission and the Law Foundation of B.C. In 2006, she started the First Nations Court of British Columbia. This special court helps people who have committed crimes. It uses traditional ways to help them heal and find balance. Judge Buller also helped create the Aboriginal Family Healing Court. This court works to help Indigenous children return to their families.

She wrote many papers about problems in the justice system. These papers focused on Indigenous rights and women's rights. She also helped with the Cariboo-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry. This inquiry looked at how the justice system treated people in the Cariboo-Chilcotin area.

In 2016, Ms. Buller retired from being a judge. After retiring, she took on another very important role. She became the Chief Commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Leading the National Inquiry

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was a huge task. It looked into why so many Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada face violence. As the Chief Commissioner, Ms. Buller led this important work. She oversaw the writing of the final report. This report was called Reclaiming Power and Place. It explained the reasons behind the sad numbers of violence against Indigenous people. The report used a very serious term to describe this ongoing violence. It said it was a "deliberate, race, identity and gender-based genocide".

In 2021, Marion Buller was chosen for another big role. She became the 12th Chancellor of the University of Victoria. She started this job on January 1, 2022.

Awards and Recognition

Marion Buller has received many awards for her important work. In 2012, she got the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Victoria. This award recognized her achievements after graduating.

In 2016, a magazine called Maclean's named her as one of six people who could greatly influence the Canadian government. She also received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. This award celebrates Canadians who show great leadership. She also got a Diamond Jubilee Medal. This medal honors Canadians who have made big contributions to the country.

Ms. Buller also received the Rosemary Brown Award for Women. This award is given to a woman in British Columbia. It recognizes someone who lives by the values of Rosemary Brown, a famous Canadian politician. She also won the Vancouver YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Reconciliation in Action.

In 2021, Thompson Rivers University gave her 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.