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Muise Lawless, Jo-Anne

PhD Alumni

• Ph.D.(c) (�Ӱ�ԭ�� University), M.A. (Wilfrid Laurier University), B.A. (Wilfrid Laurier University)
• Email Muise Lawless, Jo-Anne

Jo-Anne’s research features a spatio-temporal analysis of Acadian Metis identity in the Cape Sable region of Nova Scotia. As a member of the Kespu’kwitk Metis Council of Yarmouth, and chair of their Indigenous and Constitutional Rights committee, she is interested in the constitutive power of the law and the ways in which it affects Indigenous identity politics in Eastern Canada.

Jo-Anne is grateful to be the recipient of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2019-2020).

She is being guided in this work by her supervisor, Dr. Sebastien Malette, for whom she is working as a research assistant on the SSHRC funded Insight Development Grant research project, Métis Acadians? An investigation into the legal arguments of the Kouchibouguac families against her Majesty the Queen, and the SSHRC Insight Development Grant research project, Kinship and Communities: A Genealogical Investigation of the Acadian Métis of Nova Scotia

Educational Background

PhD Student, School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University.

PhD candidate, Law and Legal Studies, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University.

Master of Arts, Cultural Analysis and Social Theory (honours), Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo campus (2014).

Bachelor of Arts, Contemporary Studies (honours), with an Option in Indigenous Studies,  Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford campus (2012).

Teaching Experience

Winter 2021: Indigenous Criminal Justice LAWS 4504 B

Fall 2021: Indigenous Criminal Justice LAWS 4504 A

Winter 2019: Criminal Justice System LAWS 2301

Winter 2020: Indigenous Criminal Justice LAWS 4504

Publications and Conference Presentations

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles 

Lawless, Jo-Anne. “Strengthening Our Voices: Urban Dwelling Aboriginal Peoples and Research Protocols.” AlterNative Journal: An International Journal of  Indigenous Peoples. 11.4 (2015): 389-400.

Lawless, Jo-Anne, Dorothy Taylor, Rachael Marshall, Emily Nickerson, and Kim Anderson. “Meaningful Engagement: Women, Diverse Identities and Indigenous Water and Wastewater Responsibilities.” Journal of Canadian Woman Studies 30.2/3 (2015): 81-88.

Murphy, Brenda, and Jo-Anne Lawless. “Climate Change and the Stories We Tell.” Journal of Canadian Studies 46. 2 (2013):196-220.

Book Contributions

Lawless, Jo-Anne, and Sébastien Malette. “The Case of Maxim Cormier and the Unrecognized Acadian Métis: Between Criminalization and Group Lateral Violence.” In Eastern Métis: Chronicling and Reclaiming a Denied Past, eds. Michel Bouchard, Sébastien Malette, and Siomonn Pulla, Lexington Books, 2021.

Lawless, Jo-Anne. “Epilogue: Sitting in with Sisters” in Keetsahnak: Our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Sisters. Eds, Kim Anderson, Maria Campbell, and Christi Belcourt, University of Alberta Press. 2018.

Conference Presentations

Lawless, Jo-Anne, Sébastien Malette, Tiana Mager,  Christine Elsey, Seán O’Connell, Étienne Rivard, Siomonn Pulla, and Michel Bouchard. “Reclaiming a Denied Past: Métis Ethnogenesis and Resurgence in Central and Eastern Canada.” Changing Climates: Struggle, Collaboration, and Justice / Changer d’air: lutte, collaboration, et justice. American Anthropological Association and the Canadian Anthropology Society. November 20-24, 2019. Vancouver, British Columbia.

Lawless, J., T. Coates, and L. Joe. “Gender Equity and Diversity in Reconciliation.” Màmawi Together. May 23-24, 2018. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario.

Tucker, A., S. Longboat, and J. Lawless. “Exploring the Path to Métis Self-Governance in Canada: a synthesis of existing research knowledge.” Imagining Canada’s Future: A Successful Shared Future with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Sept 25-26, 2017. Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario.

Lawless, J. “‘Indian’ Under the Law: Métis Identity Politics in Eastern Canada.” Contentious Claims: Negotiating Ownership in Law and Culture. Seventh International Summer Institute on the Cultural Study of the Law. August 13, 2017.  Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.

Chartrand, L., H. Dorries, H. King, J. Lawless, and P. McGuire. “Education and the Future of Reconciliation.” Visions for Canada 2042, March 3, 2017. �Ӱ�ԭ�� University, Ottawa, Ontario.

Lawless, J. “Meaningful Engagement: Women, Water, and Infrastructure in a First Nations Community.” Aditawazi Nisoditadiwin: Reconciliation, Responsibilities, and (Re)Creating Relations, March 19, 2016. �Ӱ�ԭ�� University, Ottawa, Ontario.

Lawless, J., R. Marshall, K. Anderson, D. Taylor, and E. Nickerson. “A Living Entity: Making Infrastructure Decisions about the Water.” 13^th Indigenous Women’s Symposium. Gchi-twaawendimong Ezhi-wiijikiiwendimong Gchi-twaa-nibi: Celebrating our Relationships with Water, March 21-23, 2014. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.

Lawless, J., and C. Lopez. “The Construction of Indigenous People in the Media.” Criminology Student Conference, March 6, 2014. Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford, Ontario.

Lawless, J., and C. Lopez. “AlterNative Perceptions: Media Portrayals of Aboriginal Persons in the Prison System.” Graduate Students’ Conference in Indigenous Research, February 1, 2014. Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford, Ontario.

Hoggarth, J., J. Lawless, and R. Marshall. “Building a Living Balance: Employing Traditional and Technical Ways of Knowing as a Means to Promote Sustainable Water Systems in Indigenous Communities.” Annual Symposium on Indigenous Research- Honouring the Kahswentha: Reclamation, Renewal, Reconciliation, November 8-9, 2013. Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.

Lawless J. “Positive Identification: Online Indigenous Language Reclamation and Affect.” Social and Political Thought Conference: Technology, Culture and Social Change, March 23-24, 2013. Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Lawless, J. “Two-Eyed Seeing: Atlantic Métis’ Perceptions of Land Stewardship.” 14th Annual Symposium on Indigenous Research—Respecting Mother Earth: Indigenous Perspective on Environmental Justice, November 2, 2012. Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.            

Lawless, J., S. Ahmed and B. L. Murphy. “Climate Change and the Stories We Tell.” Grand River Forum Faculty Conference, October 20, 2012. Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford, Ontario.