L. Jane McMillan

Dr. L. Jane McMillan is a Professor and former Canada Research Chair (2006-2016) in the Department of Anthropology at St. Francis Xavier University. Her work focuses on Indigenous legal frameworks, treaty rights, and sustainable community development, particularly among Mi’kmaq communities. She leads the Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Communities Lab, fostering collaborative research with Indigenous communities to address governance, resource rights, and social justice. Her research emphasizes the intersection of historical treaties with modern practices, aiming to disrupt colonial dependency patterns.

Key research areas include treaty implementation strategies post-R. v. Marshall (1999), Mi’kmaq ecological knowledge systems (Netukulimk), urban Indigenous wellbeing, and social policy frameworks informed by Indigenous traditions. She collaborates with institutions like the Tripartite Forum and Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program, training graduate students and advocating for culturally congruent policies.

Notable achievements include policy-informing publications on Mi’kmaq resource rights and family violence dynamics, as well as community-driven initiatives to enhance cultural competency in healthcare and justice systems. Her work highlights the transformative potential of Indigenous self-governance and reconciliation efforts.

• Awards: Canada Research Chair (2006-2016)
• Grants: Canadian Foundation for Innovation funding for collaborative research labs
• Labs/Teams: Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Communities Lab