We are a collective of Afro-Indigenous peoples descended from Africville, Weymouth Falls, and Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Vibrant Black settlements founded on the ancestral lands of the Mi’kmaw Nation.
Despite playing a pivotal role in Canadian History our ancestors were forced to relocate from our ancestral lands in search of opportunities. We, their descendants, continue to face the intergenerational impacts of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism as a result. We are here to confront cultural erasure, cultural dislocation, social justice and systemic denial of our rightful access to land, resources, and identity.
Our mission is to plant seeds grounded in equity and inclusion while ensuring that Afro Indigenous people across Canada can thrive for generations to come.
VISION & VALUES
We envision a future where Afro-Indigenous people heal in community not in cages. Our work is guided by the following values:
- Liberation over punishment
- Accountability through care
- Sovereignty and self-determination
- Healing as a right, not a privilege
MEET OUR BOARD
Brandy Skinner
Co-Founder & Chair
Brandy Skinner is a descendant of Africville, Nova Scotia, and the granddaughter of Rita Brown and Joseph Skinner of Africville, one of Canada’s most significant civil-rights struggles for Black communities. Her Indigenous lineage traces through her great-grandmother Hazel Cassidy, the mother of Rita Brown, grounding her leadership in a multigenerational legacy of Afro-Indigenous rights advocacy, land stewardship, and the pursuit of justice and recognition for communities historically displaced and marginalized in Canada.
Her grandfather, Joseph Skinner, was among the residents and landowners. who spoke publicly during the 1960s against the forced relocation and destruction of Africville, defending the rights of Black families to remain on their land.
Brandy is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Resettlement Society for Displaced Afro-Indigenous Nova Scotians, where she leads initiatives advancing reparations, cultural restoration, dual-heritage Gladue reporting, and economic reconciliation for Africville descendants now living in Ontario.
Trained in Business Administration and Project Management at George Brown Polytechnic, with a focus on building strategic partnerships that align philanthropic capital, public funding, and community leadership to create sustainable pathways for economic empowerment and community resilience.
Eden Edward
Co-Founder & Vice-Chair
Eden Edwards is an 8th-generation Afro-Indigenous Nova Scotian, social entrepreneur, and photographer dedicated to reclaiming displaced identities through the power of visual storytelling. As the Co-Founder and Vice Chair of the Resettlement Society for Displaced Afro-Indigenous Nova Scotians, Eden merges her passion for genealogy with a profound commitment to healing ancestral trauma, using her creative lens to make invisible histories visible.
Eden’s lineage is a map of Nova Scotian resilience and service. She is a descendant of the Black Loyalists through the Jarvis family of Weymouth Falls, with deep roots in the Bear River region. This legacy of service is defined by her great-grandfather, Aubrey Jarvis, who served in the historic No. 2 Construction Battalion. Her ancestry also reaches into Cumberland through her great-grandparents, Nathaniel Martin and Mary Elizabeth Skinner, connecting her as the 5th great-granddaughter of John Wentworth.
As a social entrepreneur, Eden leads the creative process from concept to delivery, ensuring that every project is purposeful, engaging, and culturally resonant. She specializes in crafting narratives that bridge the gap between historical displacement and modern restoration, aligning community leadership with powerful visual content to create sustainable pathways for economic sovereignty and communal endurance.
Sonya Venedam
Co-Founder & Board Secretary
Sonya Venedam is a dedicated community advocate, co-founder, and creative leader with deep roots in Afro-Indigenous heritage. With ancestral ties to the Venedam family line and Indigenous lineage connected to her great-grandfather, Sonya carries forward a legacy grounded in resilience, cultural identity, and community responsibility.
Born into a family with connections to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sonya’s background reflects a rich blend of African and Indigenous ancestry. Her work is deeply influenced by this history, particularly the experiences of Afro-Indigenous communities whose stories have often been overlooked or underrepresented.
As a co-founder of the Resettlement Society for Displaced Afro-Indigenous Nova Scotians, Sonya is committed to rebuilding pathways for cultural reconnection, housing stability, and community empowerment. Her leadership focuses on creating safe, supportive spaces through programming such as youth arts initiatives, wellness events, and community development projects
Driven by a belief in turning adversity into opportunity, Sonya continues tn̈ĥo advocate for equity, cultural recognition, and sustainable change for future generations.
MEET OUR STEERING COMMITTEE
Josephine Grey
Josephine Grey is a Toronto-based human rights educator, organizer, and cooperative leader with nearly four decades of experience advancing economic, social, and cultural rights and challenging racism and discrimination through policy, public education, and legal advocacy. She co-founded and led Low Income Families Together (1986–2002) and later coordinated outreach and advocacy at the Income Security Advocacy Centre, supporting coalition-based campaigns and public accountability on income security and poverty. Her human-rights work includes community-based research and “People’s Report” processes, submissions to UN treaty bodies (including Canada’s 2006 review), and national and international public presentations. She has contributed to rights-focused legal and policy work through roles connected to the Court Challenges Program (Equity and Poverty) and through legal research supporting a Humanitarian and Compassionate court challenge (2009). She currently leads the OASIS Food Hub and OASIS South initiatives for afro-indigenous based sustainable food sovereignty. Jo is also the chair of St James Town Cooperative and the Children’s Peace Theatre. She is the mother of Afro-Indigenous children.
Walied Khogali Ali
Walied Khogali Ali is a seasoned policy strategist and communications specialist with over two decades of community engagement in Toronto. He serves as Co-Chair of the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association, the Community Benefits Oversight Working Group, and the Build Ontario Line Differently (B.O.L.D.) Coalition. As Project Lead for the Empowering Tenants: Expanding Legal Knowledge and Justice for Housing Rights initiative—funded by the Department of Justice—Walied advances tenant education, legal empowerment, and policy reform to strengthen housing security across Toronto.
A member of the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee, Walied has helped shape municipal equity policies and systemic reform. Drawing on his lived experience as a Sudanese-Canadian and lifelong Regent Park resident, he continues to mentor emerging leaders and advocate for affordable housing, transit justice, and human rights through inclusive, data-driven policymaking.
Kerrie-Lynn Johnston
Community Peer Support Specialist
Since April 2021, Kerrie-Lynn Johnston has been a dedicated advocate for the overall wellness of the Preston Township. Serving as a Community Peer Support specialist, Kerrie-Lynn addresses the social determinants of health by creating inclusive programs that foster activity, lifelong learning, and food security.
She is particularly recognized for her work with the Preston Area Food Network, where she excels in meeting the mandate of providing access, awareness, and education regarding food security. A master of collaboration, Kerrie-Lynn frequently partners with recreation committees and social groups to maximize funding and create shared social learning experiences. Her ability to “stretch a budget” ensures that every resource directly enhances the lives of local families and the community at large.
OUR PARTNERS
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The Resettlement Society is a grassroots organization led by Afro-Indigenous peoples. Your donation strengthens community-led initiatives and ensures that solutions are rooted in lived experiences.