¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ has honoured recently retired Associate Vice-Principal Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill), Ed’99, by naming the Outdoor Indigenous Gathering Space. "Tsi Yakwanahstahsontéhrha – the place where we extend the rafters" is taken from the Haudenosaunee tradition of building good relations and refers to the practice of extending the rafters of the Longhouse to create room for newcomers, allowing the community to thrive.
As "election season" is just around the corner, I wanted to show my letter of support as an an example of how student leaders can work with ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ administration and the Board of Trustees.
July 29, 2024
Rebecca Coupland
University Secretary
¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥
University Secretariat and Legal Counsel
Mackintosh Corry Hall, Room F300
Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6
Dear Rebecca,
I am writing to express my wholehearted support for naming the Outdoor Indigenous Gathering Space at Queen’s University in honor of Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill). Her thirty years of dedicated service and commitment to advancing Indigenization and reconciliation at Queen’s have profoundly shaped our community and positively rippled across Turtle Island.
While Kanonhsyonne has most recently been known for her contributions leading the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, I would like to highlight her efforts at the Faculty of Education and in supporting the Alma Mater Society (AMS) undergraduate student government.
Kanonhsyonne established the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP) to provide an opportunity for teacher candidates, like me, to specialize in Indigenous education while becoming an Ontario Certified Teacher. Kanonhsyonne is the reason I was able to spend a year learning about Indigenous perspectives and world views theory on campus, and then applying it practically through teaching placements in an Indigenous alternative secondary program in Kingston and with the Maasai peoples in Kenya.
When Kanonhsyonne created ITEP, she enabled a path forward for hundreds of future educators to show up in a good way for Indigenous children and support the progression of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action. These educators have gone on and will continue to touch the lives of hundreds of students and families in their own communities.
This is what Kanonhsyonne accomplished in her first 10 years at Queen’s. When she moved to other areas of our school, her legacy in ITEP continued forward while she was able to further knit Indigenous ways of learning into the fabric of our community.
Kanonhsyonne served as a role model for student leaders. She provided careful guidance when the AMS desired to establish their first land acknowledgement and training for hundreds of student employees. Her care enabled students to take their own action, leading to a palpable impact.
Kanonhsyonne’s contribution will be felt on our campus for generations to come and dedicating this space in her name will serve as an acknowledgment of her unwavering efforts to advance inclusivity and reconciliation on campus.
Chi-miigwech / nyá:wen / thank you,
Niki Boytchuk-Hale
39th University Rector
T 613-533-2733
rector@queensu.ca