Indigenous Students | Queen's University Faculty of Arts and Science

Indigenous Student Admission Pathway

Queen’s University offers Indigenous candidates an additional and alternative pathway for admission to the first year of a full-time, first-entry undergraduate degree program, known as the Indigenous Admission Pathway. Qualified Indigenous students whose home community is in North America may be admitted to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Science (Honours), Concurrent Education Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and Concurrent Education Bachelor of Science (Honours) Programs by this alternative procedure.

Indigenous candidates may also choose to apply through the regular admission process.

INDIGENOUS STUDENT ADMISSION PATHWAY

Office of Indigenous Initiatives

The Office of Indigenous Initiatives builds community, advances reconciliation/conciliation and integrates Indigenous ways of knowing and being into the fabric and life of the university.

Explore the programs, funding opportunities and initiatives that are helping to build a campus that embraces reconciliation and encourages all members of the Queen’s community to learn about Indigenous ways of knowing.

OFFICE OF INDIGENOUS INITIATIVES

Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre

The Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre, or 4D as it is affectionately called, strives to be a home away from home, for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students on campus.

Located in a historic home on campus, they offer many amenities such as study spaces, laundry, a cozy living room, and a pantry/full access kitchen. They facilitate cultural activities such as drumming, beading, feasts and ceremony, as well as social, academic and wellbeing programming.

4D has been around was established in 1996 with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities. The Centre has been at its current location at 146 Barrie Street since 2000.

Four Directions at Queen's University.

Indigenous Awards and Scholarships

Queen's believes that all students who are offered admission should have the opportunity to attend and remain at Queen's, regardless of their personal financial circumstances. We are committed to equality of opportunity and therefore we assist students entering the first year of any first-entry undergraduate program of study whose families are lacking sufficient financial resources.

View the list of Indigenous Awards and Scholarships.

Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives

The degree plans in Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives are interdisciplinary, designed to draw together a range of course offerings on Indigenous history, culture, experience, language and ways of knowing from 14 departments within Arts and Science.

These degree plans will give both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Indigenous history and culture, to ensure that future leaders and policymakers have a solid foundation in the histories of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. Students expand their knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures, while developing professional skills such as innovative Indigenous approaches to learning and research, in order to work with Indigenous communities.

Students develop a broad interdisciplinary knowledge base on Indigenous cultures, spirituality, social systems, history, language, and contemporary issues, which is a sought-after quality in careers in Education, Law, Business, Policy and Governance or Advocacy and Social Services.

Indigenous Studies Pathways

Queen's University offers indigenous-focused Programs:

Indigenous Futures in Engineering	Indigenous Futures in Engineering provides culturally relevant student support services to Indigenous students enrolled in Smith Engineering. Working in partnership with the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre, InEng strives to support the academic, physical, spiritual and emotional needs of students.
STEMinA	STEM Indigenous Academics (STEMInA) is an academic support and community-building program for Indigenous students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) -based undergraduate degree programs at Queen’s University. Students are from the Faculties of Arts and Science and Health Science and Smith Engineering.
Indigenous Teacher Education Program	The Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP) provides an opportunity to specialize in Indigenous education and qualifies graduates for Ontario College of Teachers certification.
Master of Education in World Indigenous Studies in Education (WISE)	WISE is a progressive MEd program that allows you to pursue your research interests without leaving your community, family or job. The program is offered part-time blended (online and on-campus) for students with experience in Indigenous communities and/or World Indigenous issues.
Professional Master of Public Administration	In partnership with FNTI (First Nations Technical Institute), Queen’s School of Policy Studies now offers participants in the part-time Professional Master of Public Administration the opportunity to concentrate their elective courses in Indigenous Policy and Governance. This series of courses, unique in Canada, integrate traditional knowledge and philosophies in indigenous policy, governance, management and related areas with contemporary theoretical frameworks and best practice.

Degrees, Certificates and Notable Courses

Programs

Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives

Pursue a Bachelor of Arts General Degree Plan in Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives through the Faculty of Arts and Science. The Plan in Knowledges and Perspectives is interdisciplinary, and can be completed either as a minor in combination with any major offered in the Faculty of Arts and Science or as a stand-alone general area of study in a three-year degree. The plan is designed to draw together a range of course offerings on Indigenous histories, cultures, experiences, languages, and ways of knowing from 14 departments within Arts and Science. Students will develop a broad interdisciplinary knowledge base on Indigenous cultures, which is sought-after in careers in Education, Law, Business, Policy, Governance, Advocacy and Social Services.

This plan will give both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Indigenous history and culture in order to ensure that future leaders and policymakers have a solid foundation in the histories of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. Students will expand their knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures while developing professional skills, such as innovative Indigenous approaches to learning and research, which will help them to work with Aboriginal communities.

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGES AND PERSPECTIVES

Certificate in Indigenous Languages and Cultures

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a Certificate in Indigenous Languages and Cultures. The certificate is comprised of a total of 15.0 units taken from existing and new Indigenous language and culture courses. To ensure appropriate consultation with Indigenous leaders and knowledge keepers, the Certificate has been developed in partnership with the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre and Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre (TTO) in Tyendinaga, Ontario. The development of this certificate acknowledges Queen’s location on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, and works toward the revitalization of several endangered languages.

Courses in the certificate will provide students with a rudimentary knowledge of the languages embedded in culturally rich, experiential and, where possible, land-based learning that introduces students to the many traditions, philosophies and histories of Indigenous peoples. This certificate is open to current undergraduate degree students at Queen’s.

CERTIFICATE IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

Certificate in Mohawk Language and Culture

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a Certificate in Mohawk Language and Culture. To ensure appropriate consultation with Indigenous leaders and knowledge keepers, the certificate has been developed in partnership with Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre and Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre (TTO) in Tyendinaga, Ontario. It will comprise a total of 15.0 units taken from existing and new Mohawk language and culture courses. The certificate has been adapted from two successful post-secondary initiatives that TTO has delivered in partnership with Brock and Trent Universities in the past.

This certificate is for citizens of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, the Mohawk Nation, and others seeking to learn Mohawk language through culturally rich learning experiences that include exploring the traditions, history and worldview of the Mohawk people.

MOHAWK LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CERTIFICATE

Courses

Many departments in the Faculty of Arts and Science offer courses which allow students to learn about Indigenous cultures, languages, environments, and histories.

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Queen’s has several options available for students wishing to gain a thorough foundation in Indigenous cultures, and offers language courses in Mohawk and Anishinaabemowin, as well as a degree plan in Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives.

Mohawk

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers two courses that explore Mohawk language and culture. These can be counted towards an LLCU major, Indigenous Studies plans, a World Language Studies minor, a Linguistics major or minor, a Certificate in Indigenous Languages and Cultures, and can also be taken as electives that count toward other degree plans. Students will learn basic Mohawk language principles while gaining an understanding of the rich Mohawk culture.

Anishnaabemowin

Anishinaabemowin is the language of the Anishinaabe nation, and one of the oldest and most historically important Native American languages in North America. Anishinaabemowin was first taught at Queen’s in 2017. The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offer two courses that gives students a rudimentary knowledge of the language and, through an exploration of traditions, philosophies and histories, an understanding of Ojibwe people.

These courses can be counted towards a World Language Studies minor, a minor in Indigenous Studies, an LLCU major, a Linguistics plan, a Certificate in Indigenous Languages and Cultures, or as an elective towards another degree plan.

Academic Advisor for Indigenous Students

Jenna Kring - Academic Advisor for Indigenous Students who 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 BaH in Indigenous Studies at Trent and has a degree in Social Service Work completed at Loyalist College in Belleville before coming to Queen’s.

Meet Jenna

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 the University of Western Australia, Queen’s University and Durham University are collaborating to offer an Indigenous Student Mobility Programme to students across the Matariki Network. Most of these 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.

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 learning activities through special lectures and speakers’ series, as well as teaching, student and club initiative programs.

Indigenous Studies Interactive Expendable Fund

Cultural Spaces

At Queen's there are a number of designated Indigenous spaces at both the main and west campus locations. These designated Indigenous spaces are important to the Indigenous community at Queen's as they provide a culturally relevant space where Indigenous community members can feel safe, comfortable and welcome. Many of these spaces have been designed with Indigeneity in mind which promotes Indigenous visibility at the university. The Queen's community are welcome to access and utilize these spaces in a respectful way.

INDIGENOUS SPACES ON CAMPUS