Terms of Reference
The final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) includes three calls to action[1] that are addressed directly to post-secondary educational institutions in Canada, along with other recommendations that are addressed to government and would, if they were implemented, provide targeted funding to support related or additional initiatives in Canada’s universities and colleges.
In common with many universities, Queen’s has initiatives in place that reflect aspects of these recommendations. This notwithstanding, it is our responsibility to ensure that our response is appropriately comprehensive, and cohesive across the University, building wherever possible on what is already in place.
To this end, we are establishing a task force that will:
- Prepare a comprehensive inventory of existing Queen’s initiatives that are relevant to the TRC’s calls to action;
- Develop a set of recommendations that respond to the calls to action pertinent to Queen’s, building, as appropriate, on the existing initiatives;
- Make recommendations regarding the integration of Indigenous knowledge into existing courses and programs across Queen’s University;
- Recommend strategies, programs and services at Queen’s University that support the recruitment, admission, transition, retention, and graduation of Aboriginal students;
- Recommend strategies at Queen’s University that support the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal faculty and staff; and
- Recommend initiatives that could be undertaken to enhance the cultural climate at Queen’s University for Aboriginal students, staff, and faculty, including intercultural programming for non-Aboriginal students, staff and faculty.
We are additionally asking the Task Force to consider the broader implications of the TRC’s report for Queen’s University, and lessons that Queen’s may learn from examples of good practice found at other universities in Canada.
The task force will consult extensively as it addresses its terms of reference, engaging with, among many others, the faculties and schools, student affairs, community members, and the Aboriginal Council of Queen’s University.
[1] Calls to Action 16, 24, and 28 are addressed directly to post-secondary educational institutions.
Membership
Members of the university community were invited to suggest individuals who might serve on the Task Force.
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Karine Bertrand | Assistant Professor, Film and Media |
| Suzanne Brant | President, First Nations Technical Institute Tyendinaga (Aboriginal Council of Queen’s University representative) |
| Marlene Brant Castellano | Elder and Aboriginal Council of Queen’s University Co-Chair |
| Brenda Brouwer | Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies |
| Peter Chin | Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Faculty of Education |
| Caroline Davis | Vice-Principal (Facilities, Properties, and Sustainability) |
| Lisa Doxtator | Aboriginal Community Liaison (Aboriginal staff representative) |
| Saba Farbodkia | President, SGPS |
| Lori Garnier | Executive Director of Commerce Program |
| Mark Green | Professor and Associate Head, Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science |
| Michael Green | Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Janice Hill | Director, Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre |
| Tyler Lively | President, AMS |
| Troy Maracle | Aboriginal Education Coordinator (Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board representative) |
| Vanessa McCourt | Aboriginal Advisor, Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre |
| Jason Mercredi | Student, Faculty of Law (Aboriginal student representative) |
| Cherie Metcalf | Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Law |
| Dylan Robinson | Assistant Professor & Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts (Musicology/Ethnomusicology) |
| Jill Scott | Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) |
| Gordon Smith | Interim Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science |
| Nathalie Soini | Head, Information Services (Library representative) |
| Ann Tierney | Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs |
| Steve Tresierra | Student, Faculty of Health Sciences (Aboriginal student representative) |
| Lauren Winkler | President of Queen’s Native Students’ Association and Deputy Commissioner of Indigenous Affairs, AMS |
| Kim Woodhouse | Dean, Faculty of Engineerin g and Applied Science |
Co-Chair: Mark Green, Professor and Acting Head, Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Co-Chair: Jill Scott, Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning)
Secretary: Peggy Watkin, Associate Director, Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)
Committee Assistant and Writing Support: Carlyn McQueen, Information and Project Coordinator, Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)