Org Spotlight: Sankofa Farming Cooperative

Sankofa Farming Cooperative, a Black-led project based in Montreal, is rooted in land sovereignty, food justice, and community healing. Through its work, the cooperative fosters a healing space for Black individuals, offering an opportunity to reconnect with the land, grow culturally relevant food, and cultivate mental and emotional well-being. By centering these practices, Sankofa creates a pathway for self-determined futures, where food sovereignty goes hand in hand with mental health, providing both nourishment for the body and healing for the mind. 

Land as a Pathway to Healing 
For Akira De Carlos, one of cooperatives members, land-based work is inherently tied to Black mental wellness. “There is something deeply healing about working with the land,” she explains. “For many of us in the diaspora, disconnection from our ancestral lands has left an open wound. Rebuilding that relationship is not just about food, it is about identity, about knowing that we belong somewhere.” 

In alignment with this philosophy, the cooperative offers a space where Black individuals, particularly youth and queer community members, can engage with land stewardship in an affirming and non-exploitative way. Volunteers learn sustainable farming techniques, gain hands-on experience growing culturally relevant foods, and participate in communal gatherings that honor the spiritual and emotional aspects of land-based healing.  

The mental health impacts are both subtle and transformative. Working with soil offers a grounding practice, connecting people to the earth, to their bodies, and to the present moment. In a world that often leaves Black individuals feeling unrooted, farming becomes a way to slow down, regulate the nervous system, and process grief and anxiety. It reconnects people not only to the land, but to a sense of place, peace, and ancestral wisdom. 

Building an Autonomous Future 
Currently, the cooperative operates on loaned land at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus and a two-acre plot in Senneville, Quebec. However, their long-term vision is to establish a permanent home, a self-sustaining autonomous zone where housing, education, and food systems work in harmony. 

To achieve this, the cooperative is hoping to partner with Biblioterre, a cooperative transforming into a land trust organization. Their goal is to secure 15 acres of land where they can expand food production, build affordable housing, and create an ecosystem that supports Black communities in Montreal. Despite the challenges of navigating funding systems that often exclude Black-led initiatives, the cooperative remains committed to a model of reparations-based land redistribution. “We are not buying our way into accessing land,” Akira says. “It needs to be done through redistribution and reparations.” 

How to Support 
As Sankofa Farming Cooperative works toward securing permanent land, they invite individuals and organizations to support their mission. Whether through knowledge exchange with experienced Black farmers or simply spreading awareness, there are many ways to get involved. 

To learn more or get involved, follow Sankofa Farming Cooperative on social media or reach out to [email protected]. Through their work, they are not only reclaiming land, but also cultivating a future rooted where Black wellness, food sovereignty, and collective resilience thrive.