Maya Chacaby is Anishinaabe, Beaver Clan from Kaministiquia (Thunder Bay). Her birth family comes from Opwaaganisiniing (Red Rock) and adoptive family from Ombabika, Lake Nipigon. Maya is a sociology professor at York University and works in partnership with Nokiiwin Tribal Council to develop Biskaabiiyaang as an Indigenous Metaverse and living archive of Traditional Knowledges and language.

Maya has also developed an Anishinaabemowin culture-based grammar system and developed a D&D style table top Anishinaabemowin adventure game that she runs through her language classes at York University. In her spare time, Maya runs community-based teaching sessions on Anishinaabe worldview, cultural competency, and culture-based trauma informed practices.

Dr. Robyn O’Loughlin has worked alongside Dr. Maya Chacaby since 2018 in various roles. It was in 2018 that Dr. O'Loughlin was introduced to Dr. Chacaby through events hosted by the Nokiiwin Tribal Council (prior to either of them completing their PhDs). Since then, Dr. O'Loughlin graduated from Carleton University looking at the Ontario Anti-bullying framework and its potential impact on Indigenous youth in Northern Ontario. Dr. O'Loughlin's academic work correlates with Dr. Chacaby's work wherein they both look at anti-colonialism and learning within communities.

Dr. O'Loughlin previously was the Education Advisor for Nokiiwin Tribal Council from 2021-2023 and this is where she solidified her grounding in working with Dr. Chacaby. 

Rebecca Caines (Australia/Canada) is an interdisciplinary community-engaged artist, scholar, and curator, who works in contemporary performance, sound art, and installation, and new media art. She is currently a professor in Creative Technologies, at York University, in Toronto. Caines has staged large-scale community-based art projects in Australia, Northern Ireland, Canada, China, and the Netherlands. She researches (along with her community partners) the role of art and technology in social justice, contemporary understandings of community, and the fragile promise of ethical connection through improvisation and new ways of listening.

For Biskaabiiyaang, Rebecca supports research creation for the metaverse, supporting community goals, connecting communities, the arts industry and the university sector, and working on partnered social justice outcomes.

Benoit Buyse (Wales/Belgium) has worked at the forefront of metaverse learning since 2006. He is an expert in virtualizing educational materials and creating engaging learning games.

Benoit began his career in game development, working on projects focused on synchronous education in STEM fields. He is now the CEO of metaverse engineering company and Biskaabiiyaang partner, UniVirtual. Throughout his career, Benoit has worked with a wide range of clients, including schools, universities, governmental bodies, and Fortune 500 companies. Virtual learning environments and online training programs Benoit has designed are currently used by thousands of university students across the USA. He has also provided training to major metaverse companies in promoting diversity and inclusivity in the virtual world.