Queen’s community members turned out in the hundreds to stand up for those threatened by a racist and homophobic poster, recently discovered in a student residence building. Students, faculty, and staff marched in solidarity through the heart of campus from the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre to Chown Hall and back, condemning the act of discrimination.

The march began with speeches from student representatives, Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre staff, and senior Queen’s administrators.

“Today, I stand here proud to be who I am,” says Kassie Hill, Co-President of the Queen’s Native Student Association. “I’m proud to be a representative of Indigenous students on campus, and I can say that whoever did this failed to diminish my flame because I am more passionate and more ignited to make change than ever.”

Kanonhsyonne (Janice Hill), Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation), Kandice Baptiste, Director of Four Directions, and Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs, were among those who also spoke to the crowd.

"It was uplifting to see so many members of the Queen’s community attend the students’ march, and stand up to the vile, hateful, racist, violent and homophobic sentiments expressed in the poster placed in Queen’s residence," says Hill. "As terrible as this incident was, it has provided us with an opportunity to make a bold statement and commitment and to act to create real change not only on this campus, but in this country and beyond. It is time to question systems and barriers, and it is time to acknowledge and validate our ways of knowing and being in the world. I look forward to working with our students, my fellow Indigenous colleagues, and all members of the Queen’s community to take action towards lasting change."