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Campus community members can now learn about and engage with Queen’s University’s Indigenous research, initiatives, cultural services, and more on the newly-launched Office of Indigenous Initiatives website.

“It is important for reconciliation that Indigenous voices be incorporated into the work—the projects, research, and initiatives – that take place here at Queen’s,” says Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill), Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation). “My hope is that we continue to approach this work with Ka’nikonhrí:yo (a good mind) and I believe that our new website serves as a great starting point to help individuals to better understand Indigenous values, and how our values relate to relationship building, research, methodologies, pedagogies, and knowledge.”

The site’s design is uniquely arranged to guide users through key themes and initiatives, including Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, and Decolonizing and Indigenizing. It also showcases Indigenous ‘faces, spaces, and places’ at Queen’s, making it easier for Queen’s community members to connect with campus Elders, as well as Indigenous services for students and employees. Key pages on the site are also set to be translated into both the Kanyen’ke:ha (Mohawk) and Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway) languages, as Queen’s University is situated on the land of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe.

The launch of the website also meets recommendation #11 of the university’s Yakwanastahentéha Aankenjigemi Extending the Rafters: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Task Force Final Report. The report – a set of 25 recommendations created to advance sustained institutional change – guides the university as it continues work to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities; cultivate deeper understanding of Indigenous histories, knowledge systems, and experiences; and nurture a campus that values and reflects Indigenous perspectives.

“I encourage anyone considering Queen’s University as a place of employment or a place of higher education, and those who are part of the community already, to visit our new website,” says Hill. “It provides a wealth of information for anyone looking to engage with our Indigenous research, initiatives, and cultural services, and I know it will lead us all to a better understanding of our shared path ahead.”

Visit the new Office of Indigenous Initiatives website.