Meet Our People

Our people form the board of directors, advisory circles and working groups rooted in shared responsibility, bringing lived experience, knowledge, and collaboration to guide and grow this work together.

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Maryam Bagheri

Interdisciplinary Artist, Textile Practitioner & Community Arts Advocate

Maryam Bagheri is an Iranian-Canadian interdisciplinary artist based in Winnipeg whose work spans painting, textiles, and installation. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Art at the University of Manitoba and was awarded the SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-M) in recognition of her artistic research and creative practice.

Maryam’s work explores themes of identity, memory, language, migration, and diasporic experience through material-based processes of weaving, unweaving, and reconstruction. Drawing on textiles, natural dyes, Persian script, stone, wool, cotton, and Iranian visual traditions, her practice reflects on embodied memory, women’s labour, displacement, and the meaning of home while challenging historical divisions between craft and fine art.

Her artwork has been exhibited locally and nationally, including exhibitions in Winnipeg and Montréal, and continues to contribute to conversations around cultural memory, material storytelling, and contemporary diasporic art practices. Alongside her studio work, Maryam actively contributes to the arts and craft community as a board member with the Manitoba Craft Council.

Through her artistic practice, Maryam creates spaces for reflection, dialogue, and cultural connection, exploring how art can hold personal and collective histories while fostering resilience, belonging, and transformation.

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Chad Cornell

Holistic Therapist, Integrative Herbalist & Land-Based Educator.

Founder, The Hollow Reed School of Healing Arts & Herbals

Chad Cornell is a holistic therapist, educator, and herbalist with over two decades of experience supporting individuals in restoring balance through natural and integrative approaches to healing. A graduate of the Wild Rose College of Natural Healing, where he earned his Master Herbalist designation in 2003, Chad combines modern health research with traditional healing systems rooted in plant medicine, mindfulness, and land-based knowledge.

As Founder and Director of The Hollow Reed School of Healing Arts & Herbals, Chad has created a space dedicated to education, healing, and the preservation of traditional plant medicine teachings. Through his work, he has supported students and clients across Canada and internationally, offering workshops, retreats, and holistic wellness programming grounded in relationship, balance, and connection to nature.

Chad’s approach recognizes the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. His work emphasizes addressing root causes of imbalance through nutrition, herbal medicine, nervous system regulation, mindfulness practices, and land-based healing approaches. Drawing from Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Eclectic Herbalism, and Indigenous plant knowledge traditions, he brings a deeply integrative perspective to wellness and education.

Over the years, Chad has taught in a variety of community and academic settings, including the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba Health Sciences Centre, and Stony Mountain Institution through the Walls to Bridges Program. He has also facilitated addiction recovery education, forest medicine retreats, and cultural wellness workshops throughout Manitoba and beyond.

In addition to his teaching and healing work, Chad is a documentary creator and author whose projects explore the shared global traditions of plant-based healing and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to healing, cultural learning, community wellness, and reconnection to the land.

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Gabriel Hall

Cree Land-Based Educator, Traditional Food Practitioner & Outdoor Instructor

Gabriel Hall is a Cree land-based educator dedicated to sharing cultural knowledge through hands-on learning, outdoor education, and traditional land practices. Guided by a deep respect for the land and Indigenous teachings, his work focuses on helping others build meaningful relationships with nature through four-season outdoor education, wilderness skills, and traditional ways of living.

Gabriel brings extensive experience in land stewardship, hunting, trapping, logging, and survival skills, along with practical knowledge rooted in lived experience on the land. His teachings emphasize self-reliance, sustainability, cultural continuity, and community connection. Through his work, he supports individuals and families in reconnecting with traditional knowledge systems and learning directly from the environment around them.

Traditional food preparation is also central to Gabriel’s work. As an Indigenous chef and cultural practitioner, he shares knowledge related to harvesting, preparing, and cooking traditional foods while emphasizing respect for the land, animals, and community. Whether teaching outdoors, cooking over an open fire, or leading cultural activities, he creates welcoming and engaging spaces for learning.

Alongside his land-based work, Gabriel is an accomplished athlete and coach with experience in hockey, golf, and youth mentorship through sport. He is also a musician and performer who brings storytelling, humor, and music into community gatherings and educational settings.

Known for his adaptable spirit, energy, and strong connection to community, Gabriel’s work reflects a commitment to cultural revitalization, intergenerational learning, and sharing Indigenous knowledge in ways that are accessible, practical, and rooted in relationship to the land.

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Grace Masse

Land-Based Educator, Traditional Skills Practitioner & Community Knowledge Keeper

Grace Masse is a Woodland Cree land-based educator from Barren Lands First Nation whose work is rooted in traditional knowledge, family, and connection to the land. She holds a Master’s degree in Indigenous Land-Based Education and is deeply committed to preserving and sharing cultural teachings through hands-on learning and intergenerational knowledge exchange.
 
Grace’s work centers on traditional land-based practices including hunting, trapping, fishing, hide preparation, food harvesting, and medicine-making. Together with her fiancé and children, she actively practices and teaches traditional ways of living on the land, including smoking meat and fish, preparing harvested animals, and working with hides and natural materials. Her experience includes harvesting and processing moose, elk, caribou, beaver, otter, muskrat, and other traditional food and fur-bearing animals in ways grounded in respect, sustainability, and cultural responsibility.
 
She is passionate about sharing practical land-based skills with youth, families, and communities through activities such as salve-making, medicine preparation, traditional food practices, hide work, and cultural teachings connected to seasonal cycles and relationships with the land. Her approach emphasizes experiential learning, community wellness, self-sufficiency, and the importance of maintaining strong cultural connections for future generations.
 
Grace’s work reflects a deep commitment to Indigenous knowledge revitalization, family-centered learning, and creating spaces where cultural teachings, healing, and relationship to the land can continue to thrive.
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Mohammad Soleyman-Nejad

Psychology Researcher, Educator & Community Organizer

Mohammad Soleyman-Nejad is a psychology researcher, educator, and community organizer whose work bridges neuroscience, education, and community engagement. He is currently a PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Manitoba and serves as a sessional instructor at both the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg.

His research focuses on neural and physiological responses to stress, socioeconomic factors, and the relationship between brain and body regulation through integrated EEG and ECG measures. His work contributes to a broader understanding of mental health, stress regulation, and human resilience.

Beyond academia, Mohammad is actively involved in human rights advocacy and community organizing, particularly in supporting Iranian communities and creating spaces for dialogue, awareness, and collective action. He has experience leading student organizations, coordinating community initiatives, and helping establish associations grounded in principles of human rights, education, and community support.

Through both research and community work, Mohammad is committed to fostering informed, resilient, and connected communities while supporting opportunities for dialogue, learning, and collective well-being.

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Dr. Maya (Mahshid) Rad-Spice

Multi-disciplinary Researcher

Dr. Maya (Mahshid) Rad-Spice is a researcher, senior program and policy analyst, and community-engaged practitioner whose work bridges health, education, community development, and interdisciplinary research. Her academic background spans multiple disciplines, including biochemistry, biosystems engineering, gastrointestinal health, environmental studies, and economic development, with her work increasingly grounded in relational, land-based, and community-centered approaches.

Maya has led and supported initiatives focused on language revitalization, land-based education, early childhood development, and community wellness in collaboration with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, educators, and communities. Her work emphasizes relationship-building, ethical engagement, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems with Western scientific approaches in ways that support meaningful and practical outcomes for communities.

With experience in strategic planning, program development, partnership building, policy analysis, and interdisciplinary research, Maya works to create spaces where diverse knowledge systems can be practiced, revitalized, and shared. Her approach is guided by relational accountability, reciprocity, and a commitment to supporting community well-being through collaborative and culturally grounded work.

Through both research and community engagement, Maya remains committed to fostering initiatives that strengthen connection, resilience, education, and collective care across communities.

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Morvarid Rostami

Transformational Life Coach, Holistic Wellness Practitioner & Community Facilitator

Morvarid Rostami is a transformational and holistic life coach whose work focuses on emotional well-being, self-awareness, and mind–body healing. Certified through the Institute for Coaching Mastery in the United States, she holds a Master’s degree in Tourism Management and Marketing from Iran and later transitioned into the field of mental health and holistic wellness following her immigration journey to Canada.

Morvarid offers individual and group coaching sessions that create compassionate and supportive spaces for reflection, healing, and personal growth. Her approach integrates somatic practices, holistic wellness methods, and mind–body awareness to support individuals in recognizing and releasing emotional and behavioral patterns held within the body and nervous system.

Alongside her individual work, Morvarid facilitates community-based classes and gatherings for the Iranian community focused on mental wellness, belonging, healing, and collective experiences of migration and trauma. Her work emphasizes self-compassion, connection, and the belief that healing and transformation emerge through awareness, relationship, and inner balance.

Through her practice, Morvarid is committed to fostering supportive and culturally responsive spaces where individuals can reconnect with themselves, their communities, and their capacity for growth and healing.

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Shohreh Saeedibagha

Theatre Artist, Drama Educator & Community Arts Researcher

Shohreh Saeedibagha is an Iranian theatre artist, educator, and PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba. Her work brings together theatre, education, and community engagement, exploring the role of performance and storytelling in fostering dialogue, empowerment, healing, and social transformation.

With over a decade of experience as an actor, director, and drama educator in both Iran and Canada, Shohreh has worked with children, youth, university students, and community groups across diverse educational and artistic settings. Her research focuses on research-based theatre and performative inquiry, examining how creative processes can support reflection, resistance, collective learning, and community connection.

Through theatrical works and participatory performances, Shohreh explores themes of identity, migration, belonging, memory, and women’s empowerment using movement, storytelling, and collaborative creation. Alongside her academic work, she teaches drama and education courses at the University of Manitoba and works as a theatre instructor with Manitoba Theatre for Young People.

Shohreh’s work reflects a strong commitment to community-engaged arts practices and the power of theatre to create spaces for expression, dialogue, and collective transformation.

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Dr. Kevin Spice

Researcher, Educator & Community-Engaged Practitioner

Dr. Kevin Spice is an educator, researcher, and community-engaged practitioner whose work focuses on Indigenous legal orders, restorative justice, community healing, and Indigenous-led approaches to governance and social transformation. He is currently an Assistant Professor in Aboriginal and Northern Studies at the University College of the North.

Kevin’s work is deeply grounded in long-term relationship building and community engagement. Between 1997 and 2001, he lived in Wanipigow (Hollow Water First Nation), where he learned from Valdie Seymour-ba, Gary Raven-ba, and other community members through ongoing participation, collaboration, and shared learning. These experiences continue to shape his approach to research, education, and community partnership.

For over three decades, Kevin has worked in partnership with First Nations communities across Manitoba, supporting community-led initiatives related to healing, justice, governance, education, and economic well-being. His work emphasizes restorative and relational approaches that are rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, collective responsibility, and community resilience.

Kevin completed his PhD in Indigenous Studies at Trent University in 2022. His doctoral research examined the rise, sustainability, and re-envisioning of the Hollow Water First Nation healing and justice movement, contributing to broader conversations around Indigenous justice practices, ethical knowledge mobilization, and community-based healing models.

Through his teaching, research, and collaborative work, Kevin remains committed to supporting Indigenous-led approaches to collective well-being, relational accountability, and long-term social and community transformation.

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Parisa Tabeshmehr

Neuroscience Researcher, Science Educator & Wellness Advocate

Parisa Tabeshmehr is a neuroscience researcher, educator, and community advocate currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Manitoba. Her research, supported by the Alzheimer Society of Canada, focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and contributes to advancing understanding in the field of neuroscience and cognitive health.

Originally from Shiraz, Iran, Parisa moved to Canada in 2020 to continue her academic and research journey. Alongside her scientific work, she has several years of experience as an International Baccalaureate (IB) science educator, where she has supported students through inquiry-based learning, mentorship, and critical thinking approaches to education.

Parisa has also contributed to academic governance, program development, and student leadership initiatives through policy review, educational planning, and community engagement activities. In addition to her academic background, she brings experience in yoga instruction and mindfulness-based wellness practices that support stress regulation, self-awareness, and emotional well-being.

Her interdisciplinary work reflects a commitment to fostering supportive, informed, and compassionate spaces that integrate science, education, and holistic approaches to community well-being.

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Ash Wolfe

Land-Based Educator, Community Learning Advocate & Teacher Candidate

Ash Wolfe is a teacher candidate in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba whose work is grounded in Land-Based Education, relational learning, and community-centered approaches to teaching and leadership. She holds an Advanced Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba, majoring in Advanced Indigenous Studies with a minor in History.

Ash is committed to supporting educational spaces that centre land, culture, language, and Indigenous ways of knowing. She currently serves on the Manitoba Land-Based Curriculum Framework Committee, contributing to the development of educational practices that strengthen community connection and culturally grounded learning within provincial curriculum work. She was also selected to present at the WestCAST Conference, where she shared work focused on Land-Based and community-engaged education.

Her work and perspective are deeply shaped by family, ancestry, and relationships to place. With family connections to Peguis First Nation alongside German and Irish ancestry, Ash carries a strong appreciation for intergenerational knowledge, language, and cultural learning. These experiences continue to inform her approach to education, community engagement, and relationship-building.

Ash is especially passionate about creating opportunities for families and youth to reconnect with the land through shared learning experiences. She is excited by the possibility of helping establish and support Land-Based family camps and community programming that foster cultural connection, wellness, and experiential learning.

As she prepares to complete her final year of studies and become a certified teacher, Ash remains dedicated to building inclusive, community-rooted educational spaces that support future generations through relationship, culture, and learning grounded in the land.

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