IONS is situated in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaw people. Unceded means that the Mi’kmaq have never relinquished, sold, traded, or transferred ownership of their land to European settler colonies, yet land was taken over without their consent through various processes of settler colonialism. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, which the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik people first signed with the British Crown in 1726. These Treaties did not involve the surrendering of rights to the lands and resources they had traditionally used and occupied. We are all Treaty People.

We further acknowledge that Nova Scotia is the birthplace of Black culture and heritage in Canada. People of African descent have shared these lands for over 400 years, and over 50 strong and resourceful African Nova Scotian communities exist here today.

We are committed to the struggle against systems of oppression that have resulted in profound inequities and the denial of self-determination rights. We are working actively to deepen our learning at an individual level, provide learning opportunities about anti-racism and decolonization, and to develop partnerships with organizations serving and led by underrepresented groups.

  • The Funding Coach

    I am a funding coach here to help non profits, charities, community groups, and faith communities put plans together to become financially sustainable so they can serve their communities better.

  • Stacie Smith

    Presentations, Workshops, Panels, Interviews Topics: Youth Mental Health Mental Health Services, Integrated Youth Services (IYS), Mental Health Policy, Mental Health Literacy, and many more!! Youth Engagement Youth Activism, Youth Empowerment, Leadership, Disturbing the Status Quo and many more!! Education Industrialization of Education, Pan-Canadian Education System, Education Policy, and many more!! Others by Request!