Advancing reconciliation in higher education

The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chancellor of the Order of Ontario, recently announced a new class of 29 appointments to the Order of Ontario, the province's highest civilian honour. Among them is Danielle Lussier (Languages, Literatures, and Cultures), Queen’s inaugural Chair in Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives.

Red River Métis and citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation, a lawyer and advocate for legislation and law reform, Dr. Lussier is recognized for her work developing Indigenous pedagogies and exploring new pathways to reconciliation and decolonization through the transformation of post-secondary education and the legal profession. This is a transformation she started advocating for as a graduate student at the University of Ottawa, when she authored the first PhD thesis in Law in Canada delivered part in print, part in beadwork.

Beads have been an essential tool for knowledge sharing in Indigenous communities for centuries. The Métis Nation carries the nickname “the Flower Beadwork People,” and Dr. Lussier has built on these longstanding community traditions to both return her research to community members and to engage learners in her classrooms.

Beads have been an essential tool for knowledge sharing in Indigenous communities for centuries. (Photo provided by Dr. Danielle Lussier)

Dr. Lussier authored the first PhD thesis in Law in Canada delivered part in print, part in beadwork. (Photo provided by Dr. Danielle Lussier)

“I personally started with trying to explain to my kids what I was working on, and now I bead mnemonic devices to translate my research and my storytelling for all kinds of different audiences,” says Dr. Lussier.

Since first joining Queen’s as a cross-appointed faculty member from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2022, Dr. Lussier has always known that her commitment to students went far beyond transmitting technical knowledge. Trained in both civil law and common law, Dr. Lussier brings her Red River Métis identity onboard to educate a new generation of professionals prepared to fight a history of colonization and oppression.

“If we as a society are to move forward in a good way—Good Way with a capital G and a capital W—we need to build new relationships,” says Dr. Lussier. “We have to be prepared for several generations of work to bridge gaps that continue to persist in elementary schools, high schools, and society. Our goal is to equip future professionals in all areas with a common basic vocabulary and an understanding of history, as well as contemporary lived experience, and inspire curiosity to go learn more and be responsible for their learning going forward.”

Following her appointment as a Queen’s National Scholar in 2024, Dr. Lussier has been teaching Indigenous Research Methods as well as INDG 101: Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives and INDG 395: History and Material Culture of the Métis Nation, elective courses for undergraduate students in all disciplines, and smiles when saying that learners come to the class with humility and an open spirit.

In the upcoming years, Dr. Lussier hopes to contribute to establishing an independent Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives program at Queen’s, building on the work of other Indigenous faculty and notable alumni, such as Mohawk lawyer, professor, and activist Patricia Monture-Angus.

“These are contributions to create better, safer, gentler, healthier spaces for my children, my friends’ children, my community. The work is both incredibly important and deeply personal—I hope it will outlive me and set the stage for the next generation of scholars.”

– Dr. Danielle Lussier

Queen’s National Scholar and Chair in Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives

Asked about what receiving the Order of Ontario means to her, Dr. Lussier highlights how humbling it is to be among people who have been doing important work for decades.

“I don't consider myself to be fancy, but I’m honoured to be part of this list because representation matters, and I want young Métis people to see that we can and should access spaces like this,” she says. “We should stand up and be proud of who we are, and the work we are doing.”

To learn more, read the provincial government’s Order of Ontario announcement.