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For the Queen’s Native Student Association (QNSA), creating space for joy alongside reflection is essential for fostering a strong Indigenous community on campus. Co-presidents Delia Pridham and Sydney Allison-Muskrat, both in their fourth year of Environmental Studies, are leading that work. “We’re trying to get the ball rolling again,” Delia says. 

In past years, QNSA has hosted Indigenous Awareness Week dinners, film nights, fundraising events and a collaboration with the student-run . Beyond campus events, the group selects a nonprofit to sponsor annually. Past beneficiaries include a subsidized housing program for Indigenous peoples in Kingston and , which provides northern communities with essentials such as food, clothing, and donated cars. “Our collaboration with True North Aid really taught us how much impact even a small group can have,” relects Delia “They’re only eight people, yet they do so much for underserved communities.”

Still, challenges remain. Before Delia began at Queen’s, the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre was vandalized — an incident that left her questioning how welcome Indigenous students would feel. “It put a bad taste in my mouth, thinking about whether our club would be accepted by the broader student body,” she recalls.

That feeling continues to motivate Delia and Sydney’s leadership of QNSA. The club works to create safe, welcoming spaces that encourage students to stay and thrive at Queen’s. “I think fear of judgment does prevent some people from coming to events,” Delia explains “But it’s about building that community and making sure people feel accepted.” Sydney adds that striking a balance between Indigenous-only gatherings and open, public events allows space both for belonging and for broader education.

QNSA has also achieved systemic change. The group established two annual $1,000 scholarships to support Indigenous student retention. “Getting them in the door is one thing, but keeping them past first year is another,” Delia says. For the co-presidents, the scholarships stand as a milestone, proof that a student-run club can make a lasting difference. While larger initiatives such as their scholarship can have an enormous impact, the co-presidents also believe that simply bringing people together “might be enough sometimes” as Delia reflects. For QNSA, having a safe and joyful space for Indigenous students to gather is critical to building a strong community. 

Carrying their academic studies into the club, sustainability is woven throughout their practices and goals. “In ways, we reach more of the social side of sustainability. Our strategy is definitely about helping the community — not only at Queen’s” Sydney notes. “QNSA’s efforts tie into the UN Sustainable Development Goals broadly and in ways we may not even realize yet.” 

Looking ahead, they hope to grow QNSA’s visibility and presence across campus, blending the heaviness of reconciliation with the lightness of gathering. And the invitation is open, for anyone to join as a general member, “It’s really about creating community and learning from one another,” Sydney says.