Jessica Buffalo
CLAS Board Member
Jessica (she/her) is from Samson Cree Nation/Nipisikohpahk, and her traditional name is Bear Woman. Jessica obtained her BA from SFU in 2013, and her JD from Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC in 2016. Jessica was called to the Alberta Bar in 2017 after completing her articles at Calgary Legal Guidance. Jessica left private practice in 2019, Jessica to join Legal Aid Alberta as their dedicated Indigenous Duty Counsel after assisting with opening up the Calgary Indigenous Court. She represented clients in Siksika Adult and Youth Criminal Court, and Tsuu’tina Adult and Youth Criminal Court. She also appeared regularly in first appearance Court, bail Court, domestic violence Court, and various circuit Court locations.
In 2022, Jessica moved to the Law Society of Alberta as Indigenous Initiatives Counsel. In this role, she led initiatives aimed at advancing Reconciliation, particularly focusing on Call to Action 27. She developed Indigenous Cultural Competency Education for the both the Law Society and Legal Aid Alberta and continues this in her work today. Jessica has been actively involved in numerous committees and boards in Alberta and BC, including the Access to Justice Committee through the Court of Justice of Alberta, the Wîyasôw Iskweêw – Restorative Justice Committee, the Alberta Court’s Gladue Report Committee, and the Reconciliation Discernment Circle.
In August 2024, Jessica stepped into the role of Academic Director and Assistant Professor at Peter A. Allard School of Law and the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic in Vancouver.