Equity, diversity, and inclusion, including anti-racism, decolonization, and Indigenous resurgence, is the first a guiding principle in the Faculty of Arts and Science Strategic Plan. The Faculty of Arts and Science aspires to be a thriving, equitable and inclusive scholarly community committed to innovative disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and teaching. Our goal is to inspire curiosity and to collaboratively engage with multiple forms of knowledge that span local and global contexts.
Current Faculty EDII initiatives are focused on the implementation of the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) reports put forth by both the Federal Government and the Queen’s Task Forces, and the Queen’s Principal’s Implementation Committee on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion (PICRDI) report.
Information on resources and programs at Queen's can be found through the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Human Rights and Equity Office. Explore the sections below to learn more about the initiatives supported by the Faculty of Arts and Science.
- Office of Indigenous Initiatives
- Human Rights and Equity Office
- Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre
- Yellow House
- Give to FAS - The Indigenous Studies Interactive Expendable Fund
Queen's Truth and Reconciliation Committee Task Force
The Queen’s Truth and Reconciliation Task Force formed in April 2016 to begin the work of responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's final report on the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system for Aboriginal children. Composed of Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty, staff, students, senior administrators, and community members, the Task Force considered how to meaningfully respond to the TRC’s calls to action.
In addition, the Task Force explored how the university can play an active role in addressing the broader themes of the TRC report, including relationship-building, changing perspectives and policy, and promoting an awareness of the rights, histories, and contemporary issues of Indigenous Peoples.
In March 2017, the Task Force released its final report and recommendations. In addition to the creation of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the Task Force calls for, among other things:
- The expansion of advancement strategies to increase philanthropic funding for Indigenous initiatives, as well as the development of partnerships to proactively advocate and engage with government for system-wide programs and policies that support Indigenous students.
- Raising awareness of Indigenous-focused research occurring on campus and ensuring the necessary supports are in place to allow research in these fields to flourish.
- Every program offered at Queen’s to include significant and meaningful Indigenous content, so that graduating students gain a basic understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems relevant to their discipline.
FAS TRC Implementation Report 2019-20
Principal's Implementation Committee on Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion
In an effort to initiate a broad, meaningful, and sustained conversation on racism, diversity, and inclusion at Queen’s, and to ensure that tangible and lasting change is effected, Principal Daniel Woolf established a small group, comprised of faculty, students, and staff, to review past reports on these issues. The committee identified barriers to these recommendations, and the steps needed to remove them, so that real change can take place. The Principal’s Implementation Committee on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion began its work in early January, and published its final report in April of 2017. Learn more about the Committee and read its reports here.
FAS PICRDI Implementation Report 2020-21
EDII Council
The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Indigenization Council (“the Council”), as envisioned will act as a central communication mechanism to enable the Faculty to coordinate and operationalize EDII initiatives.
The Council will serve to inform policy and program development at the level of the departments by providing a deep, immediate and working interface with the Faculty office.
The Council will be dedicated to identifying and implementing strategic EDII initiatives as they relate to the areas of Teaching & Learning, Research, Studies, and the operations of all FAS units at undergraduate and graduate levels.
The Council will provide a wide scope on EDII work within FAS by having all units represented allowing strategies/initiatives to be tailored to meet the direct needs of each units.
Matariki Indigenous Student Mobility Program
Building on their commitment to fostering scholarship on, and deepening understanding of, indigenous peoples, Dartmouth College, the University of Otago and the University of Western Australia are collaborating to offer an Indigenous Student Mobility Programme to students across the Matariki Network. All three institutions have experience in Indigenous issues, have Indigenous student populations and are able to offer participants in the programme an immersion experience through links with local Indigenous communities. Each year, a group of Queen's students participates in the two-week academic programme. Participants learn about issues of great significance to local host and partner university indigenous communities, and gain an understanding of how those issues may be addressed in their respective home countries. The first two editions of the programme were held at Otago (2016) and at UWA (2017), with the 2018 programme scheduled to take place at Dartmouth.
Community Outreach - Indigenous Studies Interactive Expendable Fund
The Faculty of Arts and Science is proud to announce the Indigenous Studies Interactive Expendable Fund. By contributing to this initiative, you will be supporting the promotion of Indigenous and Aboriginal learning activities through special lectures and speakers’ series, as well as teaching, student and club programs. To learn more, contact the Faculty of Arts and Science Advancement Team.
Staff Profiles
Dr. Elliot Chapple - Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenization
Dr. Chapple brings with him over 17 years of experience working within academia, community and government to the Director role. In 2017, after over a decade of working in higher education in the US, Dr. Chapple decided to return home to Canada. Since returning to Canada, Dr. Chapple has served as the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood, Senior Policy Advisor and Research Analyst for the Office of the Status of Women, and he continues to work with community-based research groups on queer and trans health issues.
Most recently, he was Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Specialist at the University of Ottawa Department of Medicine. His passion is working to ensure that marginalized populations are recognized through his work in policy, advocacy, and research; seeking to reduce inequities and improve outcomes for all. He works from an intersectional feminist anti-racist/anti-oppressive framework.
As the new Director, Dr. Chapple is responsible for taking the lead on proactive EDII initiatives. Supporting that first guiding principle in the Faculty’s Strategic Plan, equity, diversity, and inclusion, including anti-racism, decolonization, and Indigenous resurgence, these strategic initiatives will foster a learning and working environment where all have an opportunity to succeed.
Dr. Chapple will continue work on the FAS EDII needs assessment and develop an associated implementation plan that includes the creation of a mentoring program to retain new Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) faculty members.
Jenna Kring - Academic Advisor, Indigenous Students
Jenna joined the Faculty of Arts and Science after one year with Four Directions as the Indigenous Programs and Events Associate. HEr main focus after joining FAS is supporting Indigenous students in a variety of areas. Jenna was born and raised on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, spent some time at Queen’s as a student and says that is where they fell in love with the school and Kingston. They completed their Masters in Indigenous Studies at Trent and has a degree in Social Service Work completed at Loyalist College in Belleville before coming to Queen’s.
Daralyn Auld - Academic Advisor, International Students
Daralyn provides academic advising for undergraduate students on all Faculty programs, regulations, and policies, and participates as a member of the advising team of the Student Services division of the Faculty of Arts and Science. She also works closely to provide academic advising support to all international students within Arts and Science, as well as students at the Bader College, students who have completed studies at the Queen’s School of English, and exchange students.