Rachel Ariss

Rachel Ariss is an Associate Professor in Legal Studies at Ontario Tech University, part of the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. She holds a PhD and JD, with advanced legal degrees from Queen’s University and the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on intersections between law, social justice, and Indigenous rights, including Aboriginal land rights, midwifery regulation, and surrogacy law.

Her notable work includes co-authoring Keeping the Land: Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Reconciliation and Canadian Law (2012) and publications on legal frameworks affecting Indigenous consultation, mining, and gendered aspects of parentage. Dr. Ariss teaches courses such as Indigenous Peoples, Law and the State in Canada and Legal Research Methods.

Key research themes include reconciliation in academia, the role of witnessing in justice, and regulatory challenges in assisted reproduction. Her 2022 article explores Indigenous pedagogy and reconciliation practices, while recent presentations address submerged lands and surrogacy rights.