Jada Yee, the Managing Partner at OneHoop, mentioned in his acceptance speech on behalf of the company that he never knew his grandmother.
Yee’s mother was taken away during the 60’s scoop, and he was only able to meet his grandmother as she was at the end of her life.
“I do this [work] to honour [her], to show that her life had meaning. Not just her but to all [the] other Indigenous children, those survivors, those victims … I do that to honour their memories.”
Jada Yee and Justine Stilborn of OneHoop accept the Leading Together Award.
OneHoop, which Yee noted has only been in operation for approximately a year but is making consistent impact across Canada. The company’s goal, he noted, was to create meaningful impact in each organization they work with.
“And every step we take towards that [meaningful impact], undoes a little bit of the harm and trauma that our people have faced for generations.”
“On behalf of my partners, I want to say thank you so much, it means a lot. I want to thank the people who created OneHoop, Thomas Benjoe, Cadmus Delorme, Cree Lavallee, and Justine Stilborn.”
He also added that in two short weeks OneHoop, in partnership with Canada’s Department of National Defense will be meeting in Ottawa for a groundbreaking conference.
“It is the very first Indigenous conference of its kind in history, and to think that it all came from Treaty 4 Territory,” Yee added.
To learn more about the impact OneHoop is making across Canada as an economic reconciliation company, watch the Leading Together nominee video HERE or visit their website HERE.
https://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MCOS-EVENT-AWARDS133-scaled.jpg12801920Adminhttps://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MCoS-Primary-Stacked-Colour.pngAdmin2024-11-22 09:47:152025-07-02 10:57:47OneHoop makes Canada-wide impact from home on Treaty 4
“This is a great honour and I feel very humbled to be in the room here with so many amazing people. For us, for our little company to be recognized, in this way is beautiful. I’d like to thank [Dr.] Kathy Walker and everyone at the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and to MCoS for the gift of these awards and this recognition as well as bringing all these people together,” Steven Waldscmidt said in Burnt Thicket Theatre’s acceptance speech of the Leading Together Award
“There are so many collaborators who helped bring this to reality, I want to thank all of them.”
Burnt Thicket Theatre accept the 2024 Leading Together Award
Waldscmidt, in his speech, personally thanked over 50 artists, actors, musicians, board members, staff, partners, community collaborators, and funders who were pivotal in the creation and dissemination of We Treaty People, for which the theatre company based out of Saskatoon was recognized for.
“We Treaty People was one way we found to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action … in creating this series we were also experimenting in trying to find a process to tell these stories in a good way, not just tell good stories.
“We aim to honour the 49 artists involved to bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, in friendship as well as collaboration and we sought to enact the Truth and Reconciliation that we know these stories themselves can be.”
He noted that when doing a live show, they always hold talkbacks; an opportunity for the audience to interact with the cast. But during COVID-19 and with audio plays, they instead recorded talkbacks and published those interviews online.
“We are very grateful for this challenging and compelling … podcast that all these artists created with us and we’re thrilled about the ongoing relationships [and] conversations that we see emerging from this work.”
“The lessons we learned through We Treaty People continue to inform all that we do as a company and we remain committed to working humbly towards healing between all peoples and reconciliation with this beautiful land that we share.”
To Learn more about the We Treaty People production, watch the Leading Together nominee video HERE or visit Burnt Thicket Theatre’s website HERE.
https://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-design-3.png10801080Adminhttps://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MCoS-Primary-Stacked-Colour.pngAdmin2024-11-22 09:40:102025-07-02 10:58:37Burnt Thicket Theatre explores how to ‘tell a story in a good way’
“Back in 2021, when I was asked to pack 20 years of my life in just two suitcases, I didn’t know what to pack other than some thermal clothes and a heart full of hope; hopes of building bridges across cultures, learning from others, and sharing my own heritage,” Mohammad Akib Hossain said during his acceptance speech for the 2024 Youth Leadership Award.
“But what I did not know, was that I was stepping into a whole different universe, where there was going to be a bunch of challenges thrown at me, and I didn’t know what to expect,” he added.
“As an international student, the transition wasn’t always easy. There were moments when I felt isolated, trying to transition into a new culture, the education system, and most importantly the weather that my thermal jackets did not prepare me for.
“At times, I felt like an outsider, and I wondered if I even belonged here. But those were the moments when I learned the importance of resilience, and the power of community.”
Over the last three years, Hossain noted that he had been fortunate to have collaborated with ‘inspiring individuals’ from University of Regina Students Union, UNICEF Canada, the United Nations Association in Canada, the Regina Public Interest Research Group, the Carillon Newspaper, and many others
“Through these experiences, I have learned how people from different backgrounds facing different struggles can come together to create something greater than themselves. Those roles have given me the platform to not only speak up for others but also create the kind of community where everyone feels included and heard.
Hossain added that he remains committed to promoting the celebration of diversity and fostering unity across cultural backgrounds.
“This [award] is to all my mentors, all my peers, and all the organizations I’ve been a part of. Thank you so much for believing in me and thank you so much for letting me serve.”
To learn more about Mohammad Akib Hossain’s impact, watch his nominee video on our website HERE.
https://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Untitled-design-2.png10801080Adminhttps://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MCoS-Primary-Stacked-Colour.pngAdmin2024-11-22 09:22:032025-07-02 11:01:35Power of Community’ key to finding belonging: Mohammad Akib Hossain
MCoS Honours 2017 demonstrates what makes a multicultural superhero
On Saturday, November 18, 2017 in the beautiful and sacred surroundings of Wanuskewin Heritage Park, over 60 people gathered to honour volunteers who have made significant contributions to multiculturalism in Saskatchewan. This annual event is the highlight of Saskatchewan Multicultural Week, which takes place November 18-26, 2017. This week recognizes that Saskatchewan was the first province in Canada to enact multicultural legislation. We celebrate our strength in diversity and recognize that our cultures enrich all aspects of life in our province.
2017 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award Recipient Bwe Doh Soe and 2017 Betty Szuchewycz Award Recipient Bula Ghosh
Jebunnessa Chapola, past recipient of the Betty Szuchewycz Award, was the Master of Ceremonies. Harvey Knight, MCoS Board member and member of Muskoday First Nation, commenced the event with a blessing. We were pleased Mr. David Buckingham, MLA for Saskatoon Westview, joined us and brought remarks on behalf of the Minister for Parks, Culture and Sport, who is responsible for the Saskatchewan Multiculturalism Act. MCoS President Asit Sarkar provided opening remarks and introduced the video and spoken word presentation.
The presentation highlighted this year’s public campaign. For the video, we created a 30-second ad that featured Janelle Pewapsconias, 2015 recipient of the Multicultural Youth Leadership Award, sharing her multicultural superhero Zoey Pricelys Roy. Then, Zoey replied live by sharing her multicultural superhero, Kadane Headley, through spoken word. Zoey is a powerful speaker and her impactful sharing left an impression on the audience.
Guests were invited to attend a reception following the program that featured delicious cultural cuisine created by Wanuskewin Heritage Park Authority Catering, including Three Sisters Chili, bannock and Saskatoon Berry Tarts. Guests were also welcome to view an educational public dance performance and participate in a walking tour of Wanuskwein.
MLA David Buckingham, SGEU Secretary-Treasurer, Roseann Strelezki, 2017 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award Recipient Bwe Doh Soe, MCoS ED Rhonda Rosenberg, 2017 Betty Szuchewycz Award Recipient Bula Ghosh, MCoS Secretary and Chair of the Recognition Committee Renata Cosic and MCoS President Asit Sarkar.
Nominees for both awards are assessed on their contributions to multiculturalism in Saskatchewan through the five streams of multicultural work: cultural continuity, cultural diversity, anti-racism, intercultural connections and integration. A recognition committee decides the recipients.
The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan was pleased to present the 2017 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award in partnership with the Saskatchewan Government Employees’ Union (SGEU). Roseann Strelezki, SGEU Secretary-Treasurer, brought remarks and introduced the award. SGEU also generously donated a $500 reward.
Bwe Doh Soe received the 2017 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award. Bwe arrived in Saskatoon as a Karen refugee in 2007. Not only has Bwe survived ethnic cleansing and life as a refugee, but he has become a crusader for the Karen people. He has been impressively active in continuing and preserving his own cultural practices and supporting others in the Karen community. He has more recently begun to connect his experiences to both Syrian refugees and Indigenous people in Canada and acted as a leader for creative reconciliation. (Read full bio)
Once again, the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan presented the 2017 Betty Szuchewycz Award. Renata Cosic, MCoS Secretary and Chair of the Recognition Committee, introduced the award and the recipient. The recipient will select a charity for a donation of $500 from MCoS.
Spoken Word artist, Zoey Pricelys Roy, shares her multicultural superhero, Kadane Headley.
Bula Ghosh received the 2017 Betty Szuchewycz Award. There is no question that Bula’s contributions to multiculturalism in Saskatchewan have been outstanding. As an English as a Subsequent Language instructor in Yorkton and Swift Current, Bula has ensured that integration efforts go far beyond the classroom. She has contributed to local organizations, including revitalizing the Southwest Multicultural Association, to provincial boards and committees, including SaskCulture, and has been recognized at the national level. Bula never hesitates to share rural perspectives and she has demonstrated commitment to relationship building and anti-racism. Bula has made it known that truth and reconciliation is very much part of a dream that she has for her community. Bula embodies the five streams of multicultural work. (Read full bio)
The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan wishes to thank everyone for participating in the MCoS Multicultural Honours Awards. This event highlighted some of Saskatchewan’s very own multicultural superheroes. We encourage everyone to participate in the provincial campaign, Who’s Your Multicultural Superhero | #MulticulturalSuperhero running until November 30, 2017.
00brandonwu@me.comhttps://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MCoS-Primary-Stacked-Colour.pngbrandonwu@me.com2017-11-28 13:22:242020-08-07 12:16:56MCoS Honours 2017 demonstrates what makes a multicultural superhero
