Dawn Wasacase is of Cree/ Saulteaux/Ukrainian descent and a citizen of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Treaty 4 territory. After earning an Education degree at the University of Saskatchewan, she worked as a teacher and then a curriculum writer with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. Her career took a new direction when the Indspire Awards show hired her as a cast wrangler, to ensure that on-screen talent was where it needed to be when it needed to be there. Indspire recognized her gift for leading others and offered her the position of Head Talent Coordinator, where she was responsible each year for preparing 20 young minds for a career in the production world.

Dawn’s medium for creative expression is visual – she’s a television and events producer, production designer and educator. Her experience ranges far and wide, from producing corporate video to generating nationally broadcast Indigenous-centred content. It’s in that connection to culture that her passion lies.

“Cultural content has the most meaning – no matter your own cultural grounding, when you experience cultural elements that are not your own, it opens your heart and mind to the world, and to others.”

Fatemeh, originally from Iran, immigrated to Canada to pursue her philosophical dreams. With her background in both Computer Science and Philosophy, immigration has given her the chance to see the Other and be seen through the Other in their historical and cultural richness. As a Community Development Worker at SODS, she is able to apply ideas, theories, and research findings to real-world situations. Fatemeh spends her free time reading philosophical books, listening to music, watching movies, and creating portraits.

Fay Motevallian, born and raised in Iran, is a Master’s student in Linguistics at the University of Saskatchewan, where a passion for language and sounds led her to specialize in phonetics. Beyond academics, she channels her creativity into photography and videography. As a member of the Threads team, she actively contributes to video production and editing. In her free time, Fay cultivates a love for cinema and literature, frequently indulging in movies and books.

Hongjian (Jay) Li is an award-winning, multicultural Graphic Designer currently based in Canada. With over 7 years of professional experience in graphic design and visual communication, Jay has worked across diverse cultural and creative landscapes, including Canada, the United States, and China.

Specializing in branding, promotional graphics, packaging, editorial design, and more, Jay brings a refined visual sensibility and cross-cultural perspective to every project. He holds a Master’s degree in Graphic Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)—one of the world’s top-ranked art and design schools. And a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design from Arizona State University.
Jay’s design work has been recognized and featured in several prestigious awards and publications, including: Adobe Design Achievement Awards, STA 100, Indigo Design Award, Sandu Publishing, among others.

Currently, Jay serves as Digital Media Officer at the Saskatoon Open Door Society, where he leads the creation of engaging visual content for multiple platforms. His work spans graphic design, branding, social and editorial design, and photography, with a strong focus on storytelling for newcomer communities, helping them live, learn, and thrive in their new environment.

He believes good design is not only about aesthetics, but also about communication, empathy, and social impact. With curiosity, clarity, and craft— he is striving to make design both functional and emotionally resonant.

Born and raised in Iran, Parastoo Dokouhaki has been a journalist, blogger, and women’s rights activist for over 20 years. She is committed to her community, wherever she lives. Parastoo is interested in echoing the voices of underrepresented minority groups in Canada and seeks equality, diversity, and inclusion. She holds a Master’s in Global Media from SOAS, University of London, and a diploma in Media Production from Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Working for Saskatoon Open Door Society, especially Threads, lets her combine her personal experiences as an immigrant with her knowledge of Media.