Jessica is a proud First Nations woman of Teetł’it Gwich’in heritage from the sacred lands of Teetl’it Zheh (Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories) on her maternal side, and of vibrant Caribbean-Asian heritage from Trinidad and Tobago on her paternal side. These interwoven cultural roots deeply inform her life’s work and allow her to build strong, authentic relationships within both Indigenous and Caribbean communities. 

Jessica is the founder of Our Light: Indigenous Craft Circle an Indigenous-owned cultural and creative hub located in the Regional Municipality of Durham. Grounded in Indigenous leadership and community-driven economic development, Jessica created the space to address the lack of a culturally safe, multi-use hub supporting Indigenous makers, entrepreneurs, and knowledge-keepers in the region.

With a commitment to economic reconciliation and cultural integrity, Jessica has developed a model that combines Indigenous retail, low-barrier vendor opportunities, arts-based programming, and professional collaboration spaces. The hub serves as both a marketplace and a gathering place — fostering creative expression, small business growth, and cross-cultural learning.

Through this work, Jessica advocates for Indigenous economic sovereignty and believes that reconciliation must include tangible economic participation and community investment.