New Indigenous gathering space officially opens on campus

Truth and Reconciliation

New Indigenous gathering space officially opens on campus

Bader Philanthropies, Inc. helped fund the project that will bring Indigenous ways of knowing to Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s.

By Communications Staff

September 18, 2023

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Photograph of attendees taking part in a round dance in the new Indigenous gathering space on Queen's campus during the opening event.
Attendees of the opening event taking part in a round dance led by members of the Mohawk community from Tyendinaga.

Members of the Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s community gathered to celebrate the official opening of a new outdoor Indigenous gathering space on campus. Located at the south end of Tindall Field, the new space will now serve as an important place for learning, ceremony, and reflection. The public opening came after a special event the week before for Indigenous members of the Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s community.

카지노 게임 컬렉션This is a teaching and learning space for the whole campus, with a focus on the teaching of Indigenous studies and giving Indigenous faculty a space where they can teach classes in the ways they have always taught, in the ways we have always come to know things,카지노 게임 컬렉션 said Kandice Baptiste, Senior Director, Student Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging, during remarks at the event. 카지노 게임 컬렉션I look forward to seeing many classes here that are taught in circle and flipped from the traditional lecture style so that folks have an understanding of the history of this territory and are exposed to different ways of knowing and being on this campus. The land is our first teacher, and this is purposefully made to be in the land so that we can as a campus better understand our roles and responsibilities as human beings.카지노 게임 컬렉션

Photograph of Kandice Baptiste speaking at the opening event for the new Indigenous gathering space
Kandice Baptiste discussing the purpose and uses for the new space during the opening event.

Baptiste also credited Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation) Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill), who is currently on leave, with having the original vision for the space and for making it possible.

The distinctly curved structure of the new building is inspired by traditional Anishinaabe wigwams, and the design incorporates significant Indigenous symbology. Entryways are positioned facing east and west, denoting the rising and setting of the sun, and the overall design nods to the medicine wheel and is designed for sacred ceremonial activities like smudging.

The architect of the space, Eladia Smoke of Smoke Architecture, was on hand at the event and reflected on the significance of the design.

카지노 게임 컬렉션There are so many teachings embedded in our pre-Contact architectural forms that we tried to bring into the space, and I hope that is of use to anyone who teaches, learns, or shares knowledge here,카지노 게임 컬렉션 said Smoke. "It is so rare for institutions to have spaces like this that are usable spaces that are outdoors and connected to the land. These places are really powerful.카지노 게임 컬렉션

Photograph of the new Indigenous gathering space on Queen's campus.
Exterior of the new gathering space.

The project카지노 게임 컬렉션s construction was funded by a donation from Bader Philanthropies, Inc. 카지노 게임 컬렉션 long-time supporters and donors to Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s.

카지노 게임 컬렉션I카지노 게임 컬렉션d like to thank Bader Philanthropies and the Bader family for their support of this important project,카지노 게임 컬렉션 says Vice-Principal (Advancement) Karen Bertrand (Artsci카지노 게임 컬렉션94). 카지노 게임 컬렉션Supporting Indigenous causes was important for Isabel Bader. She grew up in Northern Ontario and was aware of the importance of reconciliation work and the building of bridges with Indigenous communities.카지노 게임 컬렉션

Additional funding for the project comes from the Office of the Principal and the Office of the Provost, as well as from the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Photograph of Eladia Smoke, architect of the new space, speaking at the opening event.
Eladia Smoke speaking at the opening event.

Part of the Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s ongoing commitment to truth and reconciliation, the structure카지노 게임 컬렉션s location was selected to work in harmony with other notable Indigenized areas of campus, including the  in nearby Mackintosh-Corry Hall, and new Indigenous spaces in the neighbouring Agnes Etherington Art Centre, being created as part of . The new space will join a wider array of Indigenous spaces across campus as well, like the recently opened Endaayaan-Tkanónsote student residence and its outdoor courtyard Indigenous gathering space.

Allen Doxtator, Elder in the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) and a member of the Bear Clan, spoke at the event about the important role Indigenous spaces play in decolonization efforts on campus.

카지노 게임 컬렉션This space is about being Indigenous. And since it카지노 게임 컬렉션s outside there카지노 게임 컬렉션s a better view of learning, a better view of who we are,카지노 게임 컬렉션 said Doxtator. 카지노 게임 컬렉션In those classrooms inside you카지노 게임 컬렉션re surrounded by four walls, and that카지노 게임 컬렉션s all you see, that카지노 게임 컬렉션s all you know. In order for Indigenous people to make this space Indigenous, our minds have to be Indigenous. We have to decolonize our minds while we카지노 게임 컬렉션re in this space. Our minds are colonized by classrooms, but here you can open up your mind to a lot of different ways of learning and understanding.카지노 게임 컬렉션

Photograph of Allen Doxtator speaking at the opening event for the new Indigenous gathering space
Allen Doxtator addressing the significance of the new space during the opening event.

Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s Facilities played an instrumental role in constructing the project and bringing the design for the space to life. Erik Harmsen, Project Manager, spoke about what made this a special initiative for Facilities.

카지노 게임 컬렉션I got to learn so much through this project about the meaning of the significant pieces of the design,카지노 게임 컬렉션 said Harmsen. 카지노 게임 컬렉션It felt like such a privilege to be working alongside the team at the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, and to see it here now is lovely. I know it means a lot to our team and that this will be a very important part of the campus.카지노 게임 컬렉션

Following the remarks, members of the Mohawk community from Tyendinaga marked the importance of the event by leading attendees in an Indigenous round dance.

Learn more about Indigenous initiatives at Queen카지노 게임 컬렉션s on the OII website.

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