New faculty appointment: Douglas Sanderson

The Faculty of Law is delighted to announce that Douglas Sanderson will be joining us as a full-time faculty member as of July 1, 2009. 

As a J.D. student at the Faculty, Douglas Sanderson served as managing editor of the Indigenous Law Journal in 2002.  He went on to earn his LL.M from Columbia University, where he was a Fulbright scholar.  Prof. Sanderson's research areas include Aboriginal and Constitutional law, as well as private law (primarily property law) and public and private legal theory. His work uses the lens of material culture and property theory to examine the nature of historic injustice to Indigenous peoples and possible avenues for redress.  Moving beyond the framework of common law property rights and constitutional land/treaty rights, his scholarship focuses on Aboriginal institutions, post-colonial reconciliation and rebuilding community. 

Prof. Sanderson is a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and he is also deeply engaged in Aboriginal issues from a policy perspective.  From 2004-2007 he was a Senior Advisor to the Government of Ontario, first in the Office of the Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, and later, to the Attorney General. 

Prof. Sanderson has been a Visiting Research Fellow at the Faculty since 2007.  During this time, in addition to developing and teaching a number of very successful courses and serving as the Academic Advisor for Aboriginal students, he has initiated several vital projects.  In 2008, he organized the highly successful 2008 Summit on Aboriginal Economic Development with the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin.  Prof. Sanderson is currently taking the lead on a number of projects, including the development of an Indigenous Commercial Code and Court of Arbitration for Indigenous Nations in Ontario, a U of T Executive Education Program for Aboriginal leaders, and a Court of Administrative Law for the Métis Nation of Ontario.