K’ómoks First Nation makes history with milestone in land governance

The K’ómoks First Nation has made history by appointing Dr. Marion Buller as Canada’s first justice of the peace in a land code nation. With 40 years of legal experience, Dr. Buller has been a trailblazer, becoming the first Indigenous woman appointed as a provincial court judge in B.C. and serving as the chief commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Her appointment is seen as a step toward greater self-governance for the First Nation and could inspire other Indigenous communities with land codes to implement their own justice systems.

Dr. Buller’s role is aimed at ensuring the K’ómoks can enforce their own laws, addressing historical challenges where police and prosecutors have refused to enforce First Nation laws due to jurisdictional concerns. At the unveiling ceremony, Dr. Buller expressed her commitment to community safety, healing, and land protection, emphasizing her role’s independence from politics. She praised the K’ómoks for their courage in advancing their laws and pushing back against colonization, with the ultimate goal being the health and safety of the community and the land.