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As part of continued efforts to advance reconciliation, Indigenization, and decolonization at Queen’s, the Vice-Principal Research (VPR) Portfolio, in collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, is undertaking the next significant step in building a more ethical and reciprocal research environment for work involving Indigenous communities.

Assistant Professor in the Indigenous Knowledges & Perspectives Program, O'nahkwi:yo Kelly Maracle (Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) has been appointed as the inaugural Indigenous Research Ethics Lead, bringing deep experience and community knowledge to this important role. Throughout her three-year term, O'nahkwi:yo Kelly Maracle will support the development of an independent Indigenous Research Ethics Board (IREB) — a foundational initiative designed to ensure that the ethics review of research involving Indigenous communities is guided by reciprocal, respectful, and culturally grounded practices.

This work builds on a collaborative effort by the VPR Portfolio and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and extensive consultation with Indigenous and settler faculty, staff, students, and community members, as well as national experts, who identified strong support for the creation of a standalone IREB at Queen’s, as described in the 2022 Indigenous Research Ethics Report.

In response, the Indigenous Research Ethics Review Working Group was formed in 2022, co-chaired by Thanyehténhas Nathan Brinklow (Director, Indigenous Knowledges & Perspectives Program) and Betsy Donald (Associate Vice-Principal, Research). The group continues to explore a new model for Indigenous research ethics review, informed by community voices and aligned with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and relating.

The appointment of O'nahkwi:yo Kelly Maracle marks a meaningful step in building the institutional capacity needed to support a fully realized IREB at Queen’s. This ongoing work reflects broader institutional commitment to fostering ethical, community-driven research partnerships and supporting Indigenous sovereignty in research design, conduct, and review.