Honourable Judge Marion Buller is a member of the Mistawasis First Nation.
She served as a judge of the BC Provincial Court for 22 years, during which she was instrumental in establishing BC’s first Indigenous sentencing court and an Aboriginal Family Healing Court. She retired from the Court in 2016 to become chief commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. In January 2022, she began a three-year term as chancellor of the University of Victoria, where she obtained her undergraduate and law degrees. She continues to practise law and write articles and papers on issues related to Aboriginal law, Indigenous People’s rights, and women. In June 2022, Judge Buller was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in recognition of “her leadership in Indigenous rights advocacy as the first woman of a First Nation to be appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia”
Judge Buller has an inspiring story to tell; during this lunch and learn she will share with us her lived experience. How she reclaimed her identity, built a prominent career in a colonial legal system and made a difference through her dedication to integrating Indigeneity, reconciliation, and decolonization.
“Recognizing the many faces of colonialism is a challenge for anyone who has grown up surrounded by it…The first step is to be able to see colonialism. We’re all learning, which is so important because there’s flexibility there for us to think about how we can do this together.” Judge Marion Buller excerpt from enews Provincial Court BC
In sharing her story with us, Judge Buller offers insights on enriching Canada by learning to recognize our similarities and value our differences. “Decolonization is like a potluck dinner: The more people you invite to a potluck, the more variety of food there is—and everybody eats well,” Judge Buller.
Format: Online
Date: October 18, 2022
Time: 11:45 am – 1:00 pm PST
Cost: Included in PSEA Membership
Moderated by:
Dr. Deborah Saucier
President and Vice-Chancellor of Vancouver Island
University
PSEA Board Member
The Honourable Judge Marion Buller 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. She was instrumental in establishing the First Nations Courts of British Columbia in 2006 and the Aboriginal Family Healing Court in 2016. Marion holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Victoria.
Learn more about Marion.
