Marion Buller

JUDGE MARION BULLER BIOGRAPHY

The Honourable Judge Marion Buller (also known as Marion Buller Bennett) is a First Nations jurist in British Columbia, serving as the Chief Commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. A member of the Mistawasis First Nation, she was the first First Nations woman to be appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia and presided in courts throughout B.C.

Marion Buller attended the University of Victoria where she received a BA in Anthropology in 1975 and later graduated with her LLB in 1987. Buller’s career in law was nothing far from noteworthy; she was instrumental in facilitating several organizations regarding indigenous rights, women’s rights, Aboriginal law, family law and human rights.

From 1988-1994, Buller worked as a civil and criminal lawyer in British Columbia. In 1994, Buller was appointed to the Provincial Court bench, making her the first female indigenous Judge in British Columbia.

Prior to being appointed to the Provincial Court bench, Judge Buller worked as a civil and criminal lawyer. Buller has lectured and written numerous articles and papers about aboriginal law, criminal law, family law and human rights.

Marion Buller served as both Director and President of the Indigenous Bar Association and served as Director of the B.C. Law Court Society, B.C. Law Foundation, B.C. Police Commission and the B.C. Mediators Roster. She also was the Commission Counsel for the Caribou-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry and published reports and articles dealing with Aboriginal rights and legal services for First Nations in BC.

During her legal career, Buller worked as both president and director of Canada’s Indigenous Bar Association; a national non-profit association of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit persons in Canada trained in the field of law. Membership includes judges, lawyers, political leaders, academics, articling and law students.

She also has been an active member of several other organizations such as the B.C. Police Commission, the BC Mediators’ Roster, the Law Foundation of B.C. and the Law Courts Education Society – a non-profit organization that provides educational programs and services regarding the justice system in Canada.

Among the many other milestones mentioned of Buller’s career, Judge Buller was instrumental in establishing the First Nations Courts of British Columbia in 2006 and the Aboriginal Family Healing Court in 2016. She is well known for her advocacy and reform within the Justice system for Indigenous populations.

Her innovative and inclusive approach established a criminal sentencing court which uses restorative justice and traditional ways to reach balance and healing. Judge Buller also developed the foundation for the Aboriginal Family Healing Court, a Court to address the return of Indigenous children to their families.

Buller has written notable papers and articles which aimed to highlight the inconsistencies within the Justice System regarding indigenous rights, women’s rights, Aboriginal law, etc. She was also Commission Counsel for the Cariboo-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry which examined the relationship between the Cariboo-Chilcotin people and the justice system.

On December 8th, 2015, the Liberal government announced the start of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The inquiry was set to conclude at the end of 2018. However, Chief Commissioner Buller requested an extension to the inquiry.

The final report released on June 3rd, 2019 concluded that the violence faced by Indigenous women and girls is caused by state action and inaction. Within the report, Commissioner Buller refers to this ongoing violence as a “deliberate, race, identity and gender-based genocide”.

Among many criticisms of the inquiry was the refusal of the federal government to grant the full two year extension that was requested, which Buller saw as another “part of this national tragedy”

In 2016, Buller temporarily retired from her position as Judge at the Provincial Court of British Columbia. After retiring from her successful career in the field of law, Judge Buller went on to be appointed as Chief Commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG); the first truly national inquiry.

The National Inquiry examined the systemic causes of all forms of violence against indigenous women and girls, including sexual violence. As Chief Commissioner of the organization, Buller played a major role in the writing of Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls; a comprehensive two-volume report which examines the causes for the disturbing statistics of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada

In 2012, Buller received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Victoria Faculty of Social Science. In 2016, Maclean’s listed her as one of only six people who might be especially influential on policy in the Trudeau government. Buller has received numerous other awards, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee which recognizes Albertans who demonstrate leadership and talent in performing and visual arts.

She also received a Diamond Jubilee Medal which acknowledges Canadian citizens who have greatly contributed to the country and brought great credit to Canada. Judge Marion Buller also received the Rosemary Brown Award for Women. This award recognizes a British Columbia based woman who upholds the values and ideals of which Rosemary Brown did during her life. In 2021, Buller was granted a Doctor of Laws (h.c.) degree by Thompson Rivers University. In 2022, Buller was appointed to the Order of Canada.