Identity and the law - a creative approach to human rights
Protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and official-language minorities is central to Canadian society. But determining who can claim legal membership in these groups is highly controversial.
Professor Sébastien Grammond looks for answers in the broader social context of ethnic and linguistic identity in his new book, Identity Captured by Law, which adopts a novel interdisciplinary approach that pushes legal discussion of group rights in
“I’m looking at group rights from the perspective of anthropology and political theory to find the best way of legally identifying who members of these minority groups are,” explains Professor Grammond, acting dean of the Civil Law Section of the Faculty of Law.
The challenge, he says, is to carry out this identification process in a way that avoids discrimination and respects self-determination. “My goal is to offer a balanced perspective to those interested in multiple struggles for legal recognition of identity in
If anyone can successfully negotiate the difficult terrain of law and identity it is Professor Grammond, who makes it his duty to explain complex issues clearly, while sharing his legal knowledge with the general public. His strong communication efforts recently earned him the President’s Award for service to the university through media and community relations.
Professor Grammond’s commitment to research and communication is matched by his enthusiasm for teaching, particularly in the area of native law, where he offers a comprehensive course on native rights and an innovative summer course on Cree legal traditions, presented in collaboration with the Cree Nation of Mistissini in northern
“From a teaching perspective, my research in native law equips me with the information I need to help students think critically about current issues,” emphasizes Professor Grammond. “This leads to better exploration of options for future progress on identity and group rights in
By Greg Higgins
Published: January 2009