Chelsie Collins is a woman from Sweetgrass First Nation on Treaty 6 territory. She is a graduate of Sanctum 1.5, a program that helps pregnant women who have or are at risk of HIV keep their babies from being apprehended, and she comes from lived experience. She believes that graduating from Sanctum 1.5 changed her life forever, and since then, she has become a part of the research space where she learns and makes valuable contributions. c. Over time, she has gained skills in research design, data collection and has earned TCPS2 Core on Research Ethics Certification. She leads interviews for data collection, and in August 2023, she presented at the Indigenous Development Origins of Health and Diseases Conference. She is also involved in community research with the Waniska Indigenous Centre for HIV/HCV/STBBI research. She is a mother and grandmother and in her free time, she enjoys playing bingo and going out with her family and spending time with them.

Elgun Mehdiyev was born and raised in Azerbaijan, a county in western Asia. He and his wife and daughter recently moved to Saskatoon from Vancouver. Elgun studied International Relations at the University of Baku, in the Azerbaijani capital, earning both a BA and an MA. He has worked as an executive assistant for a company in Vancouver and at the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angelos, where he lived from 2017 to 2021. He has a strong communication skills, technical skills, teamwork, organizational skills and problem-solving skills. When Elgun is not working, he has a strong love of reading, particularly classic literature, history, politics and international affairs. He also takes great pleasure in spending quality time with his family. 

José Diego Marques Santos (Diego) is a research associate with the Sanctum 1.5 Hope Through Strength project. Diego is from the State of Piauí, Brazil and is of mixed ancestry, including Indigenous, Black and Portuguese. He lives in Leoville, SK, in Treaty 6 territory with his partner Cole. He has a Bachelor of Nursing from the Federal University of Piauí and an MSc in Community and Population Health from USask. Diego has worked as a researcher with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and at USask in the College of Medicine, the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology. He has experience with administrative databases, data analysis, patient oriented research and manuscript writing. When he isn’t working, Diego enjoys dog walking, even though he doesn’t have a dog of his own, binging Netflix and playing video games. He and Cole have also recently developed an interest in plants and have started to fill their home with plant “daughters.”

Jenn Sharp is a communications coordinator with Pewaseskwan. Jenn studied English literature at the University of Saskatchewan and took several study-abroad courses in Thailand and China, along with traditional yoga and meditation studies in Rishikesh, India. She was a sole proprietor for nearly ten years and brings a wide range of experience from being a reporter, editor, food columnist and an award-winning author, to research and interpersonal skills along with media relations and public speaking. Since 2020, she has had the opportunity to host, co-produce and write Flat Out Food, a documentary series that traces Saskatchewan’s homegrown ingredients from the farmer’s field to the chef’s plate. She feels she is best outdoors, whether it’s camping, cycling, picnics in the park, exploring a new country or walking barefoot along the riverbank. She is a yoga enthusiast and a horseback rider, enjoys cooking, homemade food and spending time with her partner Amin, friends and family. 

She is a white settler who was born and raised in Treaty 6 territory in Saskatoon. Keira earned a BSc. in Applied Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia in 2021 and has worked for nearly seven years as a veterinary assistant. She has completed an MBA from USask in the fall of 2023. She hopes to use her experience and education to help Indigenous communities improve their economic health as well as their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. She also hopes to learn more about Indigenization processes and how they can be applied to business, too. When she is not working or studying, Keira enjoys biking, reading and spending time with friends.   

Kenlei is an American of mixed settler and Anishnabe ancestry. They are a member of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Ojibwe in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They grew up in several places in the American Midwest, but consider Milwaukee, Wisconsin home. They moved to Saskatoon in 2023. Kenlei has a BA in Journalism and Public Relations, with a minor in Mandarin from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is currently taking an MSW in Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency through the University of Toronto. They have professional experience in communications, program administration, content creation, research and creative design, acquired through jobs in the Mediterranean, India, Taiwan and most recently in Eugene, Oregon, where they worked at the University of Oregon and with a non-profit organization. Outside of work and school, Kenlei has two cats and two dogs and they are an avid crafter. They love crocheting, beading and book-binding. They also enjoy gardening and cooking with the unfamiliar vegetables that they grow. They and their partner are dedicated to living more sustainably and do their best to engage in zero to low-waste living. They are also passionate about volunteer and advocacy work in houselessness and food security.

Kimberly grew up in British Columbia, splitting her childhood between Maple Ridge, Vernon and a farm in Salmon Arm, but has lived in Saskatoon for over 20 years. She joined the team as a clerical assistant in 2020 and transitioned to a research associate position and by late 2023, became a project coordinator. She currently leads the Bringing Our Fires Together project, which puts her extensive IT experience to use. She has years of experience in retail management of multiple companies in the city over that span of time, acquiring and developing skills and knowledge involved with marketing, logistics, training and whatever was needed. She is married and has a son. She loves playing video games and cooking.

Lorraine Seymouris the Waniska Centre’s Research Coordinator for Manitoba. She is located with our partner organization, Ka Ni Kanichihk, in Winnipeg, in Treaty 1 territory. Lorraine is a member of Anishinaabeg of Naongaashiing (Big Island) First Nation in Treaty 3 territory, south of Kenora, Ontario. Her spirit name is Waasamook (Lighnting) and she is from the Bear Clan. An Indian Residential School survivor, Lorraine used culture and language to heal and now thrives as a strong First Nations woman. She has a BA in Native Studies (as it was formerly called) from Trent University and she recently completed her Master of Social Work in Indigenous Knowledges from the University of Manitoba. Her graduate work focused on Ancestral Knowledges systems, specifically how “beading is healing.” When she isn’t working or studying, Lorraine is a passionate beadworker, language learner and a teacher of talking decolonization while leading beading is healing workshops. She is also a mother of five, grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of two.

Melissa, a Two Spirit/Indigiqueer individual, proudly holds citizenship with the Manitoba Métis Federation, tracing her ancestral roots to the Red River Settlement, northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. She also embraces the identity of a person with lived experiences, having lived for more than a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where she faced challenges related to addiction and homelessness. Melissa has emerged as a prominent national activist within the HIV and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs)  community, leveraging her strength-based narrative to address the disparities that Indigenous individuals living with STBBIs encounter. In addition to her position with Waniska,  Melissa serves as the manager of the Village Lab, a community-based research lab at the University of Manitoba. Melissa’s remarkable contributions earned her a Community Fellowship from the Feast Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research at McMaster University, a recognition closely tied to her work with Ka Ni Kanichihk. Simultaneously, she is actively working towards her Bachelor of Social Work degree in the Inner-City Social Work Program in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. In her spare time, Melissa generously volunteers her efforts with the Nine Circles Community Health Centre, where she serves on the Board of Directors and the Lived Experiences Advisory Committee.

Maryam was born and raised in beautiful Iran and moved to Saskatchewan in September 2023 with her husband. She studied Industrial Engineering back in Iran and has earned both a BSc and an MSc. She hopes to build her knowledge on Indigenous health and wellness and support diverse communities. She is dedicated to enhancing her skills in community engagement, collaboration and program development to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s mission. Through active listening and understanding, she aims to honour the traditions and culture of Indigenous peoples. With three years of administrative experience, Maryam brings a strong spirit of teamwork and possesses strong organizational and communication skills. Outside of work, Maryam enjoys spending time with friends, swimming, playing ping-pong and reading.

Nidhi Singh was born and raised in northern India and immigrated to Canada in 2018 with her husband and two children. She has diverse education and experience, include master’s degrees in Commerce, Economics, and Mass Communications, and bachelor’s degrees in Education and Commerce. She has worked in communications, fund raising and education. Nidhi serves on the board of Canadian Public Relations Society CPRS), Hope Restored Canada, and volunteers with Reconciliation Saskatoon, where she helps bring together Indigenous and newcomer communities to better understand each other. When Nidhi is not working or volunteering, she enjoys taking long walks with her dog, writing poetry, creating abstract paintings and spending quality time with her family.

Sarah grew up in Regina, located in Treaty 4 territory and moved to Saskatoon in 2009 to pursue her education. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and pursued graduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan. She has worked with communities in Uganda, northern Canada, and northern Saskatchewan during her undergraduate and graduate studies. Her research focused on flourishing (wellness) in adolescents in rural and remote communities. As a former counselling dietitian within the mental health sphere, she prefers to be a listener/observer and provide space for people as needed. She hopes to be an advocate for and an ally of Indigenous people, their ways of knowing and being within the research space. She believes that at Pewaseskwan sky is the limit with an interesting research lab, dynamic research team and portfolio. Their child-free-by-choice family finds warmth in the presence of their three loving creatures featuring: Mustard (cat), Taco (cat), Vasco (dog) and a jungle of houseplants. When she is not working, she enjoys tending to her garden, spending time with her pets, reading, crafting and listening to music and podcasts.

Sarah is a Research Associate with the Sanctum 1.5 Hope Through Strength project. Sarah is Indo-Trinidiadian-American; she was born in New Mexico to parents of Indian descent from Trinidad. She grew up in New York and has also lived in Kuwait, Florida, Pennsylvania and briefly Italy. She now calls Treaty 6 home and lives in Saskatoon with her husband and two cats. Sarah has a BA in Psychology from Penn State and a MA in Psychology focused on Culture, Health and Human Development from USask. She has rich work experience in public policy and social returns on investment analysis. She most recently worked at the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at USask. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys playing the piano and ukulele, going to concerts, doing embroidery and sewing, and she is an avid volunteer at a local mutual aid soup kitchen. 

Taiwo is is a Nigerian-born Ghanaian who moved to Canada to pursue a Master of Public Health degree at USask, which he completed in 2023. He is involved in the development and evaluation of Waniska’s programs, as well as the grant writing and application process. He has an educational background in medicine and surgery, which includes a degree obtained in 2010 at the University of Ilorin while in Nigeria. He worked as a team lead with an organization collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to develop health programs for and enroll Cameroonian refugees in southeastern Nigeria in the country’s national health insurance scheme. Taiwo is interested in learning more about Indigenous cultures and practices in Canada and the way colonization has affected the Indigenous population over the centuries. He is married and he and his wife had a baby girl in early 2023.

Victor is of mixed Anishinaabe, European and North African descent. He supports the Bringing Our Fires Together project and Butterfly Project. He is interested in using arts-based therapy in research. Victor has worked with non-profits in Michigan and has also volunteered with OUTSaskatoon. He attended the University of Michigan taking arts and that is where he met his husband. Victor, a queer man from the Chicago, Ill., area, lives in Saskatoon with his husband, Josh, and their dog, Bollard.