Canada Research Chair – Tier 2 Indigenous Law and Public Policy in Canada – Faculty of Law

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Position # 002661TT-2026-CRCLAW
Date posted: January 19, 2026

The University of Windsor invites applications from emerging scholars for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Law and Public Policy in Canada. This external open position will be appointed to the Faculty of Law at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (tenure-track or tenured), with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

Canada Research Chair Position

The University of Windsor invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Law and Public Policy in Canada. We welcome applications from individuals with expertise in Indigenous legal orders, governance, rights, global advocacy, The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), land and membership claims, and policy learning. The position will be appointed to the Faculty of Law at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (tenure-track or tenured), with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

The Tier 2 CRC program is intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., individuals who have been active researchers in their field and are normally within 10 years of their highest degree and
recognized by their peers as performing high-impact research and creative activities at the national and international level, and with the potential to lead in their field for the foreseeable future. The successful applicant should, at a minimum, be an Assistant or Associate Professor or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. This position is subject to final budgetary approval and approval of the nomination by the Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS).

The Faculty of Law has a strong commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and engagement with Indigenous communities and organizations. The successful candidate will build on existing research strengths and develop innovative scholarship in Indigenous law, governance, and public policy. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, legal frameworks for Indigenous governance, land and resource rights, membership and self-determination, and implementation of UNDRIP within Canadian law and policy contexts.

The CRC will foster research collaborations within the Faculty of Law, across the University, and with local, national, and international partners, including Indigenous communities, governments, and non-governmental organizations. The successful candidate will also play a leadership role in mentoring and supervising students and post-doctoral fellows while contributing to research capacity and excellence within the Faculty and the broader community.

In addition, the CRC will contribute to teaching and curriculum development, providing expertise in Indigenous law and policy in both JD and graduate programs, and will actively engage in knowledge mobilization to impact public policy, legal practice, and community initiatives.

Lived Experience Statement

In pursuit of the University’s equity goals, as outlined in the University of Windsor’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan and in accordance with the CRC Secretariat’s policies on equity, diversity, and inclusion, the University is prioritizing applications from candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, women or minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The University will also adhere to the Tri-Agency Policy on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership Affirmation through the search and nomination process.

The University of Windsor understands that gender expression takes many forms and welcomes applications from any candidate who identifies as a woman or minority sexual orientation and/or gender minority, including, but not limited to, applicants who may identify as Two-Spirit, transgender, and/or non-binary.

In alignment with the University’s employment equity policies, applicants are also encouraged to self-identify as racialized people, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), and/or LGBTQ2S+. The lived experience of applicants from equity groups will be taken into consideration as applicable to this position.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The following criteria apply to candidates being considered for this position:

The ideal candidate for the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Advanced Materials Science will be expected to satisfy the following:
• An exceptional emerging scholar who holds a JD/LLB with expertise in Indigenous Legal Orders or a Ph.D in Indigenous studies, public policy, or a related field. In the case of candidates holding a JD/LLB in Law, an LLM or advanced degree in Law or cognate discipline is preferred. In all cases, the successful candidate will have the necessary qualifications to be appointed at the level of Assistant or Associate Professor. The candidate will be expected to propose an original, innovative research program of high-quality, transformative, and impactful research in Indigenous law and policy, governance, land and membership frameworks, and the implementation of UNDRIP in Canadian law.
• An emerging scholar is defined as a researcher who has obtained their highest degree (Ph.D. or JD/LLB) within the last 10 years at the time of nomination. Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (Ph.D. or JD/LLB) (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, or other relevant factors) may still be eligible through the CRC Tier 2 justification process. For more information, please contact vpri@uwindsor.ca or consult the Canada Research Chairs website.
• A record of success, or potential for success, in establishing, conducting, coordinating, and leading multi-disciplinary and collaborative research programs. This includes fostering relationships with the external community and stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, governments, and agencies. The successful candidate will establish a research program that complements the interdisciplinary research environment at the University of Windsor, including collaboration across the Faculty of Law and with research institutes, Indigenous partners, and scholars across the University.
• The ability to supervise students and postdoctoral fellows, while supporting the development of diverse trainees. The University is especially interested in candidates who are committed to advancing Indigenization and decolonization as well as equity, diversity, and inclusion in the learning and research environment and who have a track record of, or the potential for, attracting, developing, retaining, and mentoring students and future researchers from equity groups.
• Demonstrated potential to achieve, or further augment, international recognition in their research within the next five to ten years.
The initial term of the Tier 2 CRC is five years, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance review as per CRC policies and guidelines. The expiration of the Tier 2 CRC term will not impact the nominee’s tenure-track or tenured appointment.

The University of Windsor
This opportunity aligns with the bold imperatives of the University of Windsor’s strategic plan, Aspire: Together for Tomorrow, ratified in Spring 2023. The University embraces a people-first philosophy grounded in a culture of academic excellence and deep belonging. Among key strategic priorities are advancing the journey towards truth and reconciliation; building a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive university; engaging in impactful research, scholarship, and creative activity; ensuring high-quality teaching, learning, and student experience; fostering a safe, welcoming, and sustainable campus; and engaging in local and global partnerships.

The University has already made significant strides on many of these priorities and seeks applicants interested in working alongside us to advance them further. Driven by the University’s commitment to anti-racism, the Black Scholars Institute was established in 2023, supported by a historic cohort hiring initiative that has brought thirteen Black scholars to UWindsor across several faculties. The recent cohort of new faculty (over 50) is among the most diverse in our history.

Our campus is situated on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations: the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. The University is making steady progress on the Indigenization of academic programming, developing an Indigenous Strategic Plan, and support hiring of Indigenous faculty. Our students reflect the extraordinary cultural richness of the region, one of the most diverse in Canada. Strong global partnerships are also reflected in the increasing number of graduate and undergraduate students attracted from across the world. The University is a signatory to the Scarborough Charter and participates in the Federal 50/30 Challenge.

The University of Windsor is a Canadian public, comprehensive research university enrolling 15,676 students, including 4,709 graduate students. It offers more than 280 academic programs and certificates, including 70 master’s and doctoral degrees across nine faculties: Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering; Graduate Studies; Human Kinetics; Law; Nursing; and Science. It also houses a medical program through the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Tenured and tenure-track faculty number approximately 600.
Windsor Law recognizes that Law Schools hold special obligations in advancing truth and reconciliation and is committed to ongoing advancement in its contributions to truth and justice for Indigenous people and communities. Indigenous Legal Orders has been a mandatory offering in our first year curriculum for almost a decade. The Indigenous Legal Orders Institute advances community and scholarly collaborations with the support of a full-time Indigenous Coordinator and dedicated Elder-in-Residence. The Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law Building was built to help facilitate Indigenous orders and includes, for example, classrooms and spaces with smudging capacity. We are dedicated to creating land based and community engaged learning opportunities for students and supporting critical engagements with colonial legal orders across our curriculum.

With over 700 students, 32 faculty members, and an extensive alumni network, Windsor Law is a uniquely diverse legal educational institution that centres lived experiences in the study of law. More than one quarter of Windsor Law’s class of 2025 are first generation Canadian, 53% are racialized, 59% speak a second language and 84% are first in family to attend law school. We are dedicated to reviewing our governance through anti-racist, intersectional and decolonial lenses and define ourselves as a justice-seeking, community-engaged and people-centred institution. Our unique location at the Canada-U.S. border supports teaching, research, clinical and experiential opportunities that cannot be replicated elsewhere. We recently completed a $38 million transformation of the Ron W. Ianni Law building in support of our commitment to innovative pedagogies, including collaborative, active and experiential learning. More details about our building transformation can be found at https://www.uwindsor.ca/law/twl. We also remain committed to institutionalizing an ambitious strategic plan to ensure our continued leadership as a justice-seeking, community-engaged and people-centred law school. Our current strategic plan can be found at https://www.uwindsor.ca/law/1537/strategic-plan.

Compensation:
Assistant Professor $83,896- $133,896
Associate Professor $117,799-$167,799

This is within the 2026-2027 salary range for the rank as outlined in Article A Table A.1 of the current Collective Agreement with the Windsor University Faculty Association. The compensation offered to the successful candidate will take into consideration their experience and existing salary structure. A full range of benefits including a pension plan and medical benefits are available to the successful candidate.
 
Application Requirements
• a cover letter of application, including a statement confirming eligibility to work in Canada;
• a curriculum vitae;
• a one-page statement of commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization and Indigenization;
• a teaching dossier or portfolio no longer than five pages describing the candidate’s teaching philosophy and history (resources and templates for completing a teaching dossier can be found at https://www.uwindsor.ca/ctl/502/teaching-dossiers);
• a statement of research interests and a concise research proposal (up to 3 pages).;
• up to three (3) publications that illustrate the applicant’s most important past research contributions; and
• a list of three (3) referees including only their names and contact information. These referees will be contacted only for shortlisted candidates.
The short-listed candidates may be invited to provide further information in support of their applications. To ensure full consideration, complete an online application (http://www.uwindsor.ca/facultypositions) found on the job advertisement by February 20, 2026. Applications may be considered after the deadline date; however, acceptance of late submissions is at the discretion of the appointments committee.

Any questions may be sent to:
Dr. Shanthi Johnson, Vice-President, Research and Innovation,
Tel: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 5003, E-mail: vpri@uwindsor.ca

We realize the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of research and achievement. Candidates are encouraged to explain in their applications the impact that career interruptions may have had on their record of research achievement. Further details on “Career Interruptions” may be found at CRC’s Guidelines to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment and nomination process at https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/admin_guide-eng.aspx. If you need accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Faculty Recruitment Coordinator (recruit@uwindsor.ca). Should you require further information on accommodation, please visit the Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility website. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.

The University of Windsor is committed to employment equity. It supports reaching and maintaining a diverse and inclusive representation amongst the Canada Research Chair holders at the University of Windsor along with the goal of excellence in research and Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) training and development. For further details on the University of Windsor’s commitment to CRC equity, diversity, and inclusion, please visit https://www.uwindsor.ca/research-innovation-services/608/crc-equity-diversity-and-inclusion.

For more information on the University of Windsor, please visit the University website at http://www.uwindsor.ca.

For an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Faculty Recruitment Coordinator (recruit@uwindsor.ca). Should you require further information on accommodation, please visit the website of the Office of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Mediation (http://www.uwindsor.ca/ohrcrm).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.

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