Gifts from Isabel Bader, LLD07, and Bader Philanthropies, Inc., will create new Indigenous spaces on campus and provide a major boost to Indigenous art and research.
The Bader family has endowed a Curator, Indigenous Art and Culture, at Agnes Etherington Art Centre and has also provided funding to create an Indigenous Outdoor Gathering Space by the southwest end of Tindall Field.
The gifts that Isabel and Bader Philanthropies have given in support of Indigenous initiatives have made a large impact on advancing Indigenization and reconciliation within the Queens community, says Kanonhsyonne Janice Hill, Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation). These gifts have further raised the profile of this work and enable development of more meaningful engagement within the Indigenous community at Queens and also with the broader Indigenous community in the city and region. We are ever grateful for the ongoing support and engagement of the Baders with this work.
The endowed Indigenous curatorial position is significant in Canada. The work of the curator will not only have bearing on the artistic landscape of this country, it will also ensure that Indigenous studies, Indigenous art history, and Indigenous museological practice have a place of prominence, both at Agnes and at Queens.
Investing in such a position in a permanent capacity builds trust between Queens and Indigenous communities and enables meaningful mentorship of Indigenous students, scholars, and museum professionals, says Agnes Director and Curator Emelie Chhangur. The Baders visionary commitment means that Agnes and Queens are leading the way toward transformative cultural change in this country. The effects of this gift will be felt for generations.
The Outdoor Gathering Space will be a highly visible home for traditional Indigenous events, such as welcoming, pipe, and sunrise ceremonies. Influenced by traditional Ojibwa round house and wigwam structures, it will feature a fire pit, signage representing the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe languages, and works of Indigenous artists.
The gathering space will work in tandem with the Welcoming Room, an Indigenous community space and classroom located nearby in MacIntosh-Corry Hall.
Creating these spaces and enhancing the visibility of Indigenous communities on campus was a key recommendation by the Queens Truth and Reconciliation Commission Task Force.
Its a very visible and prominent location. Its not tucked away, says Gordon E. Smith, the former Vice-Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science whos been involved in the project. There are learning opportunities just by its presence and location. This new outdoor Indigenous space will be transformative in inspiring students, faculty, staff, and community members to discover and honour Indigenous culture, stories, and ways of knowing.
