My work sits at the intersection of Indigenous governance, rights, and advocacy, and is shaped by academic training, senior policy leadership, and a life rooted in land, culture, and accountability to my Anishinabe (Citizen of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg) and Syrian communities.

For over 15 years, I've worked with First Nations, government, and national Indigenous organizations. As a Senior Manager at the National Association of Friendship Centres, I led national policy and research on housing, health, and urban Indigenous rights, and contributed to the growth of an urban Indigenous social economy. I've facilitated strategic discussions for the Assembly of First Nations across a range of critical issues, from nuclear waste and water rights to tuberculosis elimination and youth leadership. My policy perspectives are informed by a combination of lived, professional, and academic experiences and have been sought after by government agencies such as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.

Beyond policy and facilitation, my research practice has extended deep into community, supporting First Nations in specific claims negotiations and contributing to Indigenous wellness curriculum development. I am also a long-standing Research Associate and former Research Fellow at the Yellowhead Institute.

I'm currently an Assistant Professor in Indigenous Politics and Governance at Toronto Metropolitan University in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, and a PhD Candidate in Sociology at the University of Toronto (SSHRC Doctoral Fellow).

I bring together policy expertise, lived experience, and an approach built on relational trust and plain-language communication, putting these skills to work where they matter most.