Doug Cuthand - Executive Producer

Mr. Cuthand has made it his mission in life to bridge gaps between all cultures and to educate the people of Saskatchewan and Canada on who we are as indigenous people. Doug was the host of a weekly current affairs show “Indigenous Circle” and now has a weekly column for Saskatoon’s Star Phoenix newspaper and the Regina Leader Post newspaper. In doing so, he successfully captures the current issues facing First Nations and Métis people of our province. In 1987 Doug began documentary work and started Blue Hill Productions. Over the years Blue Hill has grown to become one of the leading First Nations production companies in the country, with a long list of awards and accomplishments.

Saxon de Cocq - Producer, Writer, Director

Saxon de Cocq is a Métis writer, director and creative producer from Southern Alberta, Region 3 and is a registered citizen of The Métis Nation of Alberta. After 15 years of refining his storytelling craft, he’s perfectly at home in both the documentary and scripted worlds. He has been the creative force behind documentary series like APTN’s nationally broadcast The Other Side (writing and directing 18 episodes and creative producing the series) as well as writing, directing and producing 8 short films that were screened and broadcast across the country, including CBC. Saxon has a preternatural gift for bringing stories to life in a relatable way. He currently has a docu-series in production with APTN about one of his Métis ancestors, and he’s excited to be in development on his first two scripted television series.

Ell McEachern - Executive Producer, Producer

Ell has over twenty years’ experience in the Canadian Film and Television industry, and credits on 90+ hours of content. This journey has endowed her with a love of collaboration and the ability to foster it across diverse teams, helping projects coalesce from fragile dreams into powerful concepts. Ell’s first industry steps were taken on the accounting and finance side — and she keeps one foot firmly planted there as a CFA Charterholder. She maintains her membership in the DGC Accounting Caucus, as well as a noteworthy track record of project execution, delivery and successful audits. As a producer, Ell combines an exceptional eye for detail with big picture thinking. While she’s a gifted creative in her own right, her secret weapon is helping the team levitate over complex roadblocks to get the stories told.

Hannah Hermanson - Producer

Hannah has over a decade of experience in the television and film industry. After earning her honors degree from Middlesex University in London, Hannah hit the ground running, making herself an indispensable part of any team she joined. From production manager to line producer, Hannah has taken on a wide range of roles and responsibilities, consistently executing projects with efficiency and grace. What sets Hannah apart is her unique combination of skills. She is a skilled negotiator, a savvy budgeter, and an excellent communicator. She has a talent for bringing people together, encouraging collaboration and teamwork for the greater creative good. Her resourcefulness is unmatched, and she can turn even the most challenging of situations into a success. Her ability to lead with confidence and finesse has earned her a reputation as a problem-solver, and her contributions to the projects she works on have a lasting impact.

Sam Karney - Producer, Director of Photography, Director

Sam is a Métis-Ukrainian filmmaker and co-founder of award-winning Winnipeg production company, Ice River Films. He started his career working as a television photojournalist in newsrooms across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He began producing documentaries for Global News’ magazine program “Everything Manitoba” in 2012 and has since gone on to produce documentaries and factual series for APTN and CBC. Sam has currently produced 30 hours of factual television for the Canadian market, including the award winning “Going Native” and has sold programming to France, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

In addition to producing, Sam has worked as a director of photography on programs for the likes of Smithsonian, Amazon Prime & the NHL Network. Having worked in small teams and with smaller budgets, Sam has learned almost every job that is needed to make good documentary television. He has produced, directed, shot, edited, done sound, coloured and appeared on camera all in the last 10 years.

Berkley Brady - Story Editor, Director

Berkley Brady knew she was a writer from age six, when she self-published her first story, Cocoa the Rock-and-Roll Guinea Pig. She studied creative writing at University of Victoria before getting her MFA in film, with a concentration in directing, from Columbia University in New York. She directed two episodes for APTN's Secret History of the Wild West, for which she was nominated by the Director's Guild of Canada for Outstanding Directorial Achievement, and her award-winning first feature, Dark Nature, was featured as Canada's selection for the Fantastic Seven at the Marche de Cannes, in addition to screening at festivals around the world. This year is shaping up to be a big one for Brady; she's developing several projects, including a limited series based on Maria Campbell’s iconic 1973 memoir, Halfbreed, and is working with 3 Story to shoot a feature adaptation of Jen Ferguson's novel, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, which won the Governor General's award in 2022 for YA. She is also a mother to a toddler obsessed with Godzilla and spends most of her freetime reenacting his battles with other monsters.