The Gift of Community

Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill), Associate Vice-Principal, Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation,  feels art brings communities together. It’s a way to take difficult subjects, such as the cultural genocide caused by residential schools, and share them with others. 

She cites a quote by Métis leader Louis Riel – "My people will sleep for 100 years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back" – to highlight the power of art. 

“The arts is a non-threatening kind of way to engage with Indigenous history and culture,” says Kanonhsyonne. “I think more people are likely to come to artistic events because they are non-threatening and provide opportunities for learning. That is what we are all about as a university – learning.” 

She is grateful to the Bader family for supporting Indigenous-related art initiatives at Queen’s and helping Indigenous artists foster a more understanding community by allowing their art to be seen by a larger audience. 

The Baders support the Ka’tarohkwi Festival of Indigenous Arts, which features Indigenous creativity through music, film, dance, theatre, and visual art from the top Indigenous creators in Canada. 

The Bader family also made a major gift to create a full-time Curator, Indigenous Art and Culture at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. Once the position is filled, the curator will ensure Agnes’s activities are Indigenous-led and embedded within the art centre. The impact will go beyond campus, as the curator will lead the discourse on the decolonization of art institutional practice in Canada and around the world. 

The Baders are also providing funding for a soon-to-be-built Outdoor Gathering Space located at the southwest end of Tindall Field. Influenced by traditional Ojibwa round house and wigwam structures, it will feature a fire pit, signage representing the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe languages, and works of Indigenous artists. It will be a highly visible home for traditional Indigenous events, including welcoming, pipe, and sunrise ceremonies. 

With the Every Child Matters movement gaining visibility, more and more Canadians are now talking about truth and reconciliation. Kanonhsyonne is grateful the Baders are helping to spark these important conversations and playing a role in healing a community. 

“Sometimes it can be difficult for people to face those issues that come up. But through the Baders’ support, we’ve been able to do that in creative way by engaging primarily through the arts,” says Kanonhsyonne. 

Visit our campaign page to get the latest updates on our Bader Celebrations.