Sasha Lindsay (They/Them) – Webinar Moderator

Sasha is a Métis planner, facilitator and educator with over ten years of Indigenous planning experience. Sasha is a member of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan and they’re based in Daajing Giids, Haida Gwaii. A graduate of the Indigenous Community Planning Program at the University of British Columbia, Sasha has worked in affordable housing development, Indigenous health, social planning, parks planning and marine planning. As the City of Vancouver’s first Indigenous Engagement Specialist, Sasha’s team was recognized with the 2018 IAP2 Award for Indigenous Engagement. In their spare time Sasha enjoys playing their saxophone, cooking Korean food, and reading about local history.

Dana Moraes

Dana Moraes, Senior Planner, joined the Sa̱nala team in 2023. Her Indigenous name is G̱id Uuwans, and she belongs to the Ts’aahl Haida Eagle Clan of Kaay’Llaanas. She is of Haida, Musqueam, and settler descent. Dana has vast experience in planning for Economic Development, Indigenous Community Planning and Proposal Writing. Specialties include a diverse range of comprehensive community planning, land use, strategic and project-based planning. Her passion for planning and proposal writing emerged during her time running the Swan Bay Rediscovery Program, where she recognized the need for programs that connect youth, elders, language, and community resilience. Dana’s work consistently honours tradition, language, and protocol, aligning perfectly with Sa̱nala values.

Jessie Hemphill

Jessie has been working as a planner since 2008 and co-founded Sanala (formerly Alderhill Planning) in 2016. She believes that Indigenous planning has a pivotal role to play in making the world a better place. In addition to her role as CEO of Sanala, Jessie teaches an Indigenous planning practicum program at the University of British Columbia and has taught Indigenous planning and facilitation at Vancouver Island University, Simon Fraser University, and elsewhere. She was elected into local government twice, as Councillor for the District of Port Hardy, and served on regional and provincial advisories in that role. She was also a member of her Nation’s Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors and is currently on the editorial board for the journal Planning Theory & Practice. When not in zoom meetings with her incredible staff and clients, or facilitating events out in community, she can be found spending time with her family and friends.

Katie Turriff

Katie (she/her or they/them) holds Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) and mixed European ancestry. She has been a Planner since 2021 and joined the Sanala team in 2022. Her project work is increasingly diverse and includes the White River First Nation Comprehensive Community Plan, the Taku River Tlingit Community Conflict Transformation Toolkit, and the Endangered Languages Project Strategic Plan 2024-2026. Katie’s work is academically founded on a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Planning from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Community and Regional Planning with a concentration in Indigenous Community Planning from the University of British Columbia. Learning the Mohawk language was her first reach into the world of Indigenous Community Planning. Katie is interested in the relationship between Indigenous land sovereignty and outdoor recreation, and serves on the Board for Indigenous Women Outdoors. Katie also bikes, climbs, dances, sews, seeks out eclectic music, and eats a lot of soup. Katie is based in East Vancouver in Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Territory.

Cara Basil

Cara Basil (she/her) is Secwépemc and grew up in St̓uxwtéws (Bonaparte near Cache Creek BC). For the past decade Cara has been immersed in serving First Nations in areas of education, health, planning and previously was an elected Councillor for Bonaparte. Cara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from UBC. Throughout the years Cara has grown to hold expertise in facilitation, engagement, and innovative planning approaches. You will often find Cara facilitating gatherings, forums, various meetings, strategic planning sessions and workshops. Health governance, Indigenous health, community and Nation-based projects are the areas Cara is most passionate about.

In 2024, Cwelcwélt was established and provides planning, facilitation, workshops, and technical services for communities, Nations and various organizations. Cara currently resides in Tk’emlups te Secwépemc territory.