Demi Benjoe
Meet our First Responder Training Program Coordinator, Demi Benjoe
Demi Benjoe (she/her) is a Dakota, Saulteaux, Cree and Blackfoot woman from Payepot First Nation located 20 minutes out of Regina. She successfully completed her Bachelor of Health Studies at the University of Regina and First Nations University of Canada in 2017 and has worked in the social work and health care sector ever since. She has a strong passion to help Indigenous youth achieve success by living a healthy lifestyle, encouraging youth to pursue post-secondary education and utilizing First Nation’s culture and ways of knowing to attain their own career goals all while staying true to who they are as First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous people. Demi’s career opportunities had led her to work closely with and for Indigenous communities on a provincial and national level on the importance of health and wellbeing to create positive health outcomes for Indigenous communities. Demi is looking forward to being a part of SASS and providing her expertise and knowledge with prevention and education on the social determinants of health which include addressing social factors that contribute to the high rates of sexual violence in Saskatchewan.
Aside from working at SASS, Demi enjoys painting, traveling, going to powwows and round dances. Demi loves to be very involved in her First Nation’s culture and ways of knowing whether that is attending ceremony, connecting with community and the land, going to feasts or simply learning from her grandmother and elders. She also loves spending time with her nephew whom she takes as a son, as well as her husband, her family and pets.
Fakhra Shahid
Meet our Program Lead, SSVE
Fakhra is a passionate advocate for mental health and a dedicated educator specializing in psychology and issues related to violence. Her journey in the world of psychology began with a deep love for understanding the intricacies of the human mind, and she has since become a driving force for positive change. Fakhra’s strength lies in her ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Her academic journey instilled in her a profound appreciation for the power of research and education to improve the lives of individuals struggling with challenges. As the SSVE Program Lead at SASS, she has made it her mission to provide crucial support to the community, emphasizing the importance of the healing process. Her hope is to improve the lives of survivors and practitioners while contributing significantly to the broader conversation surrounding all forms of violence.
Beyond her professional life, Fakhra’s passion for mental health and human services is complemented by her love for books. She believes that literature has the power to inspire, educate, and heal, and she often recommends books that promote understanding, empathy, and personal growth. Central to Fakhra’s principles is an unwavering commitment to equality and humanity. Her work is guided by the principles of social justice and a commitment to creating a world where all individuals are treated with respect and compassion, regardless of their background or experiences.
Hannah Grieve
Meet our Education Programs Assistant, Hannah Grieve
Hannah (she/they) is SASS’s resident artist who loves to do all things creative. They are passionate about advocating for social justice and sharing reparative sexual violence education with the province of Saskatchewan. Hannah began working in the non-profit sector in high school supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and has never looked back.
Hannah joined the SASS team in January of 2023 as a practicum student. After finishing their bachelor of social work Hannah jumped at the chance to join the SASS team! Since joining SASS Hannah has supported a variety of projects including the #ASKFORIT Campaign, First Responder to Sexual Violence Training, and Saskatchewan Sexual Violence Education Initiative. Hannah’s work is driven by a passion for supporting survivors of sexual violence and creating a more just and equitable society for all. They believe that Sexual Violence Education is essential in increasing safety and discouraging sexual violence.
Aside from working at SASS, Hannah enjoys spending time in the garden and making mixed media art with their dachshund Sunny!
Kerrie Isaac
Meet our Executive Director, Kerrie Isaac
Kerrie is our inspiring and energetic leader who is passionate about supporting individuals through education, networking, and collaborative opportunities to affect social change. Her career journey began in child development and education before she began her role as Executive Director of SASS in 2016. Since then, she has grown the organization into a team of academics and advocates who are passionate about addressing and preventing sexual violence in Saskatchewan.
Kerrie’s work at SASS is driven by the desire to amplify the work and voices of service providers who support survivors, to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual violence in the province, and to create change through transformative conversation, educational resources, and collaborative partnerships.
Aside from working at SASS, Kerrie loves hiking, mountain biking, running, playing sports and spending time with her two sons.
Patience Umereweneza
Meet our Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations, Patience Umereweneza
Patience is a research expert and community connector whose wealth of knowledge has contributed to the development of the first comprehensive study on the state of sexual violence that led to the creation of SASS’s research report titled, “Sexual Violence in Saskatchewan: Voices, Stories, and Actions from the Front Lines.” informing the development of 22 actions outlined in Working Together, the first Saskatchewan Sexual Violence Action Plan.
Patience’s work at SASS is driven by the desire to work collaboratively with communities, stakeholders, and organizations to collectively advance the issue of sexual violence while providing resources that support survivors in their healing journey.
Aside from working at SASS, Patience loves to bake, read books, play the piano, spend time with loved ones and support community organizing efforts.
Kristina Kaminski
Meet our Collaborative Community Justice Lead, Kristina Kaminski
Kristina is a whiteboard wizard, funding development queen, and systems change advocate who has been working to combat the issue of sexual violence for the past 8 years. She began her journey as a volunteer for a crisis line for survivors and then came to SASS to become a certified First Responder Facilitator and helped launch, organize and coordinate Saskatchewan’s first Violence Against Women Advocate Case Review. She is currently advancing collaborative ways to address the gaps in health and justice systems’ responses to sexual violence through the creation of a network of institutions and community-based leaders to promote systemic change.
Kristina’s work at SASS is driven by the desire to live in a world where herself and generations of women, girls, and women-identifying indviduals can live life to their greatest, wildest, and fullest possibility because they are no longer targets for sexual violence.
Aside from working at SASS, Kristina loves to nurture her large collection of indoor plants, cook without following recipe directions, and adventure with her Australian Blue Heeler, Bowie, on the Treaty lands (4,5,6,8,10) upon which she is a guest.