Meet the Team

Harmony Redsky

Executive Director

  • Harmony Redsky is Anishnaabekwe/Haudenosaunee/Ukrainian from Wasauksing. A PhD Candidate at the Paris School of Business, Harmony holds a master’s degree in business at Simon Fraser University with a specialization in Aboriginal leadership and governance. Harmony’s education includes Loyalist College (Journalism) and Athabasca University (Communications). She founded SPIRIT Magazine, Roots & Rights compilations, Sweetgrass Film Festival, Bodewadminkwek Arts & Craft Collective and co-founded Hope in the Darkness Walk for Youth Mental Health. She hosted SUN TV/APTN’s When the Music Speaks and has reported, directed, produced for TV, radio and web platforms.

Mona Bencharski 

Registry/ Policy Manager

  • Mona is a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe (Pine Creek First Nation), a Treaty 4 band in Manitoba and residing in the Treaty 2 traditional territory. Mona is knowledgeable with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Integrated Studies focused on Political Studies from the University of Manitoba. Mona is skilled in working with Indigenous communities throughout Manitoba, establishing strong working relationships, coordinating, negotiating and implementing various agreements and facilitating community engagement. She has worked for Provincial Territorial Organizations, First Nations, Federal and Provincial Governments. Mona brings an abundance of energy, creativity, dedication, experience and personal knowledge to her work.

Kahsenniyo Kick

Public Education Lead

  • Kahsenniyo Kick is from the Mohawk Nation, Wolf Clan from Six Nations Ontario. She is a Survivor of Forced/Coerced Sterilization. Kahsenniyo is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus of Poetry and Spoken Word. Kahsenniyo has an extensive history working in community with advocacy, policy, and community organizing. The concentration of her work has been on land, women, youth and Indigenous issues.

Vikki Fox

Executive Assistant

  • Bio forthcoming.

Vacant

Finance Officer

  • Bio forthcoming.

Silvia Mckay

Survivor Support Worker

  • Silvia Mckay is a Cree mother and grandmother from Treaty 4 territory. Silvia has 6 children and 17 grandchildren. Silvia is a survivor of forced sterilization. Silvia graduated from Peepeekisis School in 1992. She attended SIIT and received her continuing care certificate in 1999. Silvia has worked for 20+ years in the health care field, working with Elders’, disabled adults and youth struggling with addictions. She absolutely enjoyed her work. Silvia is an advisor with Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice at the Saskatoon office. Silvia offers valuable advice and wisdom to the leadership team based on her experience, she is also interested in strategic planning and data collection.

Melika Popp

Survivor Support Worker

  • Melika is a Ogichidaakwe woman of Anishinaabe descent with Kanaka ancestry. Melika is a survivor of the 60’s scoop, as an adult she repatriated her cultural identity by reclaiming her inherent Treaty rights with Fishing Lake First Nation #89. Melika’s human rights advocacy began in 2015, she has fostered open lines of communication toward an external review and policy changes on coercive sterilization of Indigenous women. In 2018, Melika was invited to support the Saskatoon Policy Service, Indigenous Women’s Advisory Circle where she remains a proud active member today. Melika participated in Against Their Will with APTN. Melika is an advisor with the Survivor’s Circle. Melika is a loving mother of 2 beautiful children, a grandmother to a grandson, her children are her biggest inspiration and her greatest achievement.

Alisha Bigelow

Survivor Support Worker

  • My name is Alisha Bigelow, White Dancing Wolf Woman, and I am a member of White Bear First Nation.  She currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and grew up in Flinn Flon, Manitoba.  Alisha worked for Canada Revenue Agency for 17 year and eventually became a Union Executive at the local, regional and national level.  She was passionate about the Indigenous advocacy component of this work. 

    Alisha continued her education through the First Nation Child and Family Worker Course and graduated with top marks in her class and school.  She did her practicum at First Nation Family Advocate Office (FNFAO) and loved their mandate and values.  She went on to full time employment with the FNFAO as a Rites of Passage Scaabe working with youth who are aging out of care.  She really enjoyed working with the youth and inspiring them as well as guiding them in positive ways on their life journey. 

    Alisha is a survivor of sterilization and has grieved over what has happened. She is also a sixty-scoop survivor.  Both have played a huge role in shaping who she is and her identity over the years.  

    She is a mother of two adult children and a grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren.  She is a foster parent to three beautiful children. Alisha stays involved in her culture and takes in as many ceremonies and teachings as available.  She loves the outdoors doing things like fishing and hunting and enjoys basketball, hockey, skating and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.  She rounds out her talents and skills with a love for doing crafts especially with resin, beading and sewing and travelling to be with family and friends.

Shelby Ponace

Survivor Support Worker

  • Shelby Ponace is a Saulteaux woman from Zagime Anishinabek First Nation. She is a proud mother of two young boys aged 6 and 10. Shelby currently works at the First Nation Family Advocate Office with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. The office supports individuals and families who are navigating the children and family service system and provides advocacy for those who may need it most. Shelby is thrilled to be a part of this movement and can't wait to see what the future has in store.