Jody Wilson-Raybould, Puglaas, Kwakwaka’wakw, 1971 -
She is a lawyer, advocate, and leader among British Columbia’s First Nations. She was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in November 2015, the first Indigenous person to be named to those positions. She is a former Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations. She began her legal career as a provincial crown prosecutor in Vancouver and later served as an advisor at the BC Treaty Commission. In 2004, she was elected Commissioner by the Chiefs of the First Nations Summit.
As Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations, she devoted herself to the advancement of First Nations governance, fair access to land and resources, as well as improved education and health care services. Earlier, she was previously involved with the Chiefs Committee on Claims and chaired the Comprehensive Claims joint working group.
She has served as a Director for Capilano College, the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre, and the National Centre for First Nations Governance. She was also a director on the First Nations Lands Advisory Board and Chair of the First Nations Finance Authority. She is the recipient of the alumni award from the Minerva Foundation and the University of Victoria. Jody Wilson-Raybould is a descendant of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, which are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw and also known as the Kwak’wala speaking peoples.
She is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation and is married to Dr. Tim Raybould.
