Maggie Hodgson

Dr. Maggie Hodgson is a member of the Carrier Nation who has worked nationally and internationally on Justice and Healing initiatives. Maggie worked in the Justice arena for sixteen years, and in education and healing for seventeen years. She was the chief lobbyist for the first "Healing Our Spirit World Wide Gathering" held in Edmonton, Alberta in 1992 with 3200 people participating from across the world. This gathering has been hosted in three other countries and will be return to Edmonton in 2006.

Maggie spearheaded a National Health Promotions initiative celebrating success campaign called “Keep the Circle Strong”. This initiative started with twenty-five communities and has enjoyed the participation of 1500 communities across Canada. She has presented at many conferences across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany and Norway on community healing. She has been a community developer, church and government policy lobbyist, co-author of four books, and has managed an Aboriginal education research and health promotions institute for eighteen years. Thirty eight colleges and universities utilize one of the books, “Nation to Nation”. The proceeds from her writing serve to provide bursaries for third world students to study addictions. She has been involved in the development of six non-profit/societies and foundations locally, nationally and internationally. She has sat on 12 boards of directors for service organizations and has been involved in national TV productions on family violence. She has spoken at hundreds of conferences on the successes and challenges that face the Aboriginal community.

Maggie has received many awards for her work in community development from various organizations such as the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the United Nations Community Development Award, the Canadian Public Health Community Development Award Association, the Alberta Aboriginal Role Model Award, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission Award of Excellence, “Healing Our Spirit World Wide”, International Award for Leadership in International Development from Health Canada in New Zealand, and the Canadian Centre of Substance Abuse Award of Excellence. Moreover, she was acknowledged by two universities with honorary doctorates: the University of Alberta and St. Paul’s University in Ottawa. Maggie is currently working on residential schools healing and reconciliation issues. Her work serves to support survivors through the Alternative Dispute Resolution process to resolve cases outside of court.

Maggie is a wife, a mother and an auntie who has helped raise other children. Maggie values building relationships in families of communities within the limits of our humanity and with the Creator’s guiding hand.

To learn more about Maggie, visit her personal website www.maggiehodgson.com.