Dr. Carole Blackburn

Biography

Carole Blackburn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on legal political anthropology, indigenous rights sovereignty, and the interplay of race and colonization in the context of human rights in Canada. She is known for her critical examination of treaty relationships and how they impact reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples. Her book, 'Beyond Rights: Nisga’a Final Agreement Challenges Modern Treaty Relationships' (2021), explores the legal and political ramifications of treaty-making in Canada. Blackburn’s research is supported by SSHRC funding and has addressed the litigation involving residential school students against the major Christian churches that operated these institutions, culminating in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's findings. She has published numerous articles in prestigious journals and contributed to significant edited volumes in her field, making her a notable scholar in anthropological studies relating to sovereignty, law, and indigenous rights.

Research Interests