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Bridges Research Collective

Advancing health equity with Indigenous communities through collaboration and mentorship.

About BRC

Why we do what we do

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Partnerships & Projects

Where we work & what we do

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Meet The Collective

Who we are

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About Projects Collective

Land Acknowledgment

“Our work begins with relationships. We acknowledge that we live and work on Treaty 6 and Treaty 10 territories, and in the Homeland of the Métis. These lands and waters hold the stories, teachings, and relationships that continue to guide us, especially in Sakitawak and across the north.

We honour the Elders, Knowledge Keepers, youth, and families who share their time and guide us. We commit to working in ways that are accountable to these relationships, by listening first, supporting Indigenous-led priorities, and walking together toward healthier futures.”

About Us

Who We Are

BRC is a community-led, relationship-centred research collective working alongside Métis and First Nations partners across northern Saskatchewan and beyond. Our work brings together Elders, youth, scholars, clinicians, and community partners who share a commitment to culturally grounded wellness, intergenerational knowledge, and equitable health systems.

Where We Work

Based at USask, BRC is multilocal, reflecting how many community members live, learn, and work between northern home communities, ancestral lands, and urban centres such as Saskatoon.

Our team works across the north, including Île-à-la-Crosse (Sakitawak), Clearwater River Dene Nation, James Smith Cree Nation and other partner communities, and throughout Saskatchewan, with national and international collaborators.

What BRIDGES Stands For

Our name BRIDGES reflects the shared values that guide our work, relationships, and commitments with communities.

Research & Projects

Explore our current initiatives to learn how we collaborate with communities, Elders, and knowledge keepers to foster impact across generations.

Meet the Collective

Researchers, coordinators, and community partners working together.

Sarah Oosman

(she/her)

BRC Faculty & Co-founder

Sarah Oosman

Associate Professor; Researcher

Sarah is a first-generation Canadian of mixed ethnicity, a settler ally & co-liberator, and is committed to Indigenous community-driven participatory action research that leads to the development and implementation of culture-based, relevant interventions across the lifespan. She is passionate about advancing health equity through respectful relationships, and courageous conversations.

Learn more about Sarah
Sarah.oosman@usask.ca

Lynette Epp

(she/her)

BRC Program Manager & Team Coordinator

Lynette Epp

Professional Research Associate

Lynette is a fourth generation settler of Ukrainian and Swedish ancestry, who brings over 15 years of experience with community-partnered Indigenous health research. She is a key member of the Bridges Research Collective, supporting research operations and partnerships that strengthen research initiatives through coordination, community connection, and program management.

Learn more about Lynette
lynette.epp@usask.ca

Carrie Stavness

(she/her)

PhD Student, SoTL

Carrie Stavness

Occupational Therapist

Carrie is a Clinical Associate in the School of Rehabilitation Science, supporting teaching and curriculum development for the MPT and MOT programs. Her interests include reflective and evidence-based practice, long-term care, wheelchair seating, and pressure injury management. She is completing a PhD in Education focused on SoTL.

Carrie.Stavness@usask.ca

Jille Magnus

(she/her)

BRC Communications

Jille Magnus

Communications

Jille focuses on building relationships and helping stories be heard. Her work spans arts programming, festival coordination, and community-engaged administration, always grounded in supporting human connection.

Learn more about Jille
jille.magnus@usask.ca

Joseph Desjarlais

BRC Knowledge Mobilization & Métis Community Liaison

Joseph Desjarlais

Research Staff

Bio and project information coming soon.

jdd934@mail.usask.ca

Kara Gorman

(she/her)

MSoTL Student & Project Coordinator, Grandmother’s Project; Diabetes Canada – Île-à-la-Crosse

Kara Gorman

Occupational Therapist

Kara is a Métis citizen of Saskatchewan and lives with her husband and two children in Saskatoon, Treaty 6 territory and homeland of the Métis. She is an occupational therapist and master’s student in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and has a keen interest in older adult health and wellness, as well as fieldwork education. Time with family and friends, hiking, travel, and the Blue Jays bring Kara joy.

kara.gorman@usask.ca

Lacey Nairn Pederson

(she/her)

PhD Student, Strong Bodies, Minds, Spirits & Voices Project

Lacey Nairn Pederson

Physiotherapist, PhD Student

Lacey is the daughter of settlers and grew up in the rural prairies to a family of farmers on the lands of Treaty 4, and the homeland of the Métis. Through clinical work and community-engaged research, Lacey values curiosity, learning through story and connecting with others. Her PhD work focuses on Indigenous women living well while living with Type 2 diabetes, through exploring lived experience and aspirations for the future.

Learn more about Lacey
lacey.nairnpederson@usask.ca

Sara Reena

Project Coordinator, SoTL Projects

Sara Reena

Research Staff

Sara is a recent MPH graduate who has led community tutoring programs supporting disadvantaged students. Her passions lie in advancing public health initiatives for communities and populations to support health across the life span, particularly starting at an early age. Sara is committed to building a collaborative approach to her work, integrating evidence-based strategies with a commitment to social impact.

sara.reena@usask.ca

Shannon Hyslop

PhD Student, Strong Bodies, Minds, Spirits & Voices Project

Shannon Hyslop

Registered Nurse, PhD Student

Shannon is a 6th-generation Canadian and PhD student interested in understanding and challenging systems-level inequities related to Indigenous health and wellbeing. She is partnering with an Indigenous community in Treaty 8 as a part of the Strong Bodies, Minds, Spirits & Voices project for her PhD work with Sarah.

slh744@mail.usask.ca

Tamra Knaus

(she/her)

Project Coordinator, kehokatowin

Tamra Knaus

Teacher, Research Staff

Tamra is a teacher passionate about place-based, land-based, and outdoor leadership education. She explores connections between health and education through community-led projects and research. She is a parent to a vibrant preschooler who pushes her to explore, stay curious, and try new things.

tamra.knaus@usask.ca