December 4, 2024

NationTalk: K’ómoks First Nation has announced the appointment of Dr. Marion Buller as the Nation’s first Justice of the Peace. This groundbreaking achievement is historic, as K’ómoks is the first land code First Nation in Canada to appoint a Justice of the Peace. The appointment is a powerful expression of self-determination and a cornerstone in K’ómoks First Nation’s justice process, which prioritizes cultural appropriateness, accessibility and community safety.

The K’ómoks Justice Process was created out of necessity to fill the gaps in federal and provincial enforcement support. K’ómoks First Nation is surrounded by a large urban centre, made up of the various communities of the Comox Valley. Despite this proximity, K’ómoks does not have access to the same level of enforcement support as its municipal neighbours. RCMP services are bound by the scope of the RCMP Act, which protects the laws of Canada, the provinces, and municipalities with contracts for policing. However, the RCMP Act does not acknowledge First Nations laws. This gap leaves First Nation communities vulnerable, as criminal activity can seek refuge on reserve lands.

To protect their people and lands, K’ómoks First Nation has taken the lead in bridging this enforcement gap, ensuring accessibility to justice, and aligning traditional practices like restorative justice and healing with the Canadian legal system. While current barriers to support by the Canadian legal system and policing bodies can make enforcing First Nation laws difficult, the K’ómoks First Nation Justice Process is implementing an innovative solution that can serve as a model for other First Nations across Canada who are strengthening their enforcement systems…

(For the complete press release, please follow this link)