Their areas of interest include human rights, health, environmental law, and Indigenous law
McGill University's faculty of law has announced the reappointment of professors Sébastien Jodoin and Aaron Mills as Canada research chairs for a new five-year term.
The Canada Research Chairs Program is a federal initiative designed to position Canada as a global leader in research and development. It invests up to $311 million annually to support top scholars.
Professor Sébastien Jodoin, an associate professor at McGill Law, continues as the Canada research chair (tier 2) in human rights, health, and the environment. His research explores the intersection of human rights and climate change, transnational and comparative climate law and policy, and the role of disability rights in addressing environmental and health challenges. He is the founding director of the Disability-Inclusive Climate Action Research Program (DICARP), which generates and translates knowledge on disability and climate justice.
Jodoin also serves as associate dean (research) for the law faculty. His extensive academic background includes a PhD in environmental studies from Yale University, an MPhil in international relations from the University of Cambridge, and an LLM from the London School of Economics. International organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, have cited his work.
Professor Aaron Mills, an assistant professor and a member of the Couchiching First Nation, remains the Canada research chair (tier 2) in Indigenous constitutionalism and philosophy. His research is grounded in 15 years of education with Anishinaabe elders from Treaty 3 and southern Manitoba. Mills focuses on theorizing Indigenous law on its terms, supporting Indigenous law revitalization projects, and examining their impact on Indigenous-settler relationships.
Mills collaborates with Indigenous elders, knowledge holders, and Indigenous governments to develop legal frameworks that reflect Indigenous traditions. He has received numerous academic accolades, including a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) talent award, a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholarship, and a Fulbright Canada scholarship. He holds a PhD from the University of Victoria, an LLM from Yale, and a JD from the University of Toronto.
McGill's Faculty of Law is home to seven Canada research chairs, making it one of the most represented law faculties in the country. In a statement, dean Tina Piper recognized the significance of these reappointments, "Professor Mills and Professor Jodoin have made critical contributions to advancing reconciliation and climate crisis response, two of our society's most pressing issues. I look forward to their continued engagement."
