Jody Wilson-Raybould

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould PC KC (born March 23, 1971), also known by her Kwak’wala name Puglaas, is an acclaimed Canadian lawyer, bestselling author, and former parliamentarian who stands as one of the most consequential political figures in modern Canadian history. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, she is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation and a descendant of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples. After earning her law degree from the University of British Columbia and working as a provincial crown prosecutor, she served as the Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for British Columbia, where she championed sustainable economic development and self-governance. Wilson-Raybould vaulted into global political prominence in 2015 when she was elected as the Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville and appointed as Canada’s first Indigenous Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Renowned for her unyielding institutional integrity, her tenure included landmark legislative overhauls concerning medical assistance in dying, cannabis legalization, and systemic justice reform. Her principled stance during the high-profile 2019 SNC-Lavalin affair led to her resignation from cabinet—following a brief tenure as Minister of Veterans Affairs—and her historic re-election later that year as an Independent MP, a role she held until her retirement from federal politics in 2021. A monumental voice in contemporary public policy, she has channeled her extensive governance experience into several bestselling books addressing Indigenous rights, national reconciliation, and political reform, including From We to Me: An Indigenous Journey to Leadership, her #1 national bestselling political memoir “Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power, and her indispensable 2022 action guide, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for Change. She remains a highly sought-after public speaker, legal consultant, and independent structural advisor to corporate, academic, and Indigenous communities worldwide.