“Many of the truths I heard from families and survivors left me in tears. At the same time, all of the families’ and survivors’ courage and resilience inspired me and gave me hope for real change in our communities. Since then, I have heard from many individuals and families who, as a result of sharing their truths with us, have made healthy changes in their lives. I am forever grateful to all of them. As we start to write our Final Report, I am reminded of the recommendations made by families and survivors. They are the real experts about what has to change.”
Chief Commissioner Buller is Cree and a member of the Mistawasis First Nation in Saskatchewan. In 1994, Chief Commissioner Buller was the first Indigenous woman appointed as a Provincial Court Judge in British Columbia. She retired as a judge in 2016. Prior to being appointed to the Provincial Court, Chief Commissioner Buller worked in civil and criminal law. She was Commission Counsel for the Cariboo-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry. Chief Commissioner Buller has served as President and Director of the Indigenous Bar Association in Canada, the B.C. Police Commission, the Law Courts Education Society and the Law Foundation of British Columbia.
Chief Commissioner Buller has lectured and written extensively about Indigenous issues and rights. In 2006, she initiated the First Nations Courts in British Columbia.
Chief Commissioner Buller received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Victoria.