Presenter Biographies

Marcie Potskin

Marcie was born and raised in Northern Alberta and made the most of the experiences life brought her, and went from social dependency to business owner in a matter of years. She has made it her business to show others how they can do the same.

The services she offers you, your company and your community are backed with 18 years of life, educational and work-related experience in addictions, health and healing, blue print training and coaching utilizing up to the minute and effective training strategies such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and the Peak Potential Series.

Marcie continues to actively be involved in delivering Personal and Professional Development programs in and out of First Nation Communities from Saskatchewan, Alberta and into British Columbia, working with production groups such as:

Trades Training and Apprenticeship
Employment and Educational Preparation and Readiness
The Oil and Gas Industry
Specialty Services
Corporate Training and
Youth at Risk

Gina Potts - Alexis

Gina Potts Alexis is the Business Manager for the International Trade of Aboriginal People Inc., which is wholly owned and operated by First Nation people. ITAP specializes in working with First Nations / Aboriginal People, Industry and Government to advance the business and economic interests of Aboriginal People. In December 2007, we launched ITAPFUSION an online Aboriginal human and business resource strategy. We believe that collaboration and networking are essential tools for business success.

Diane Hill

Diane Hill (Katsitsawaks) is a member of the Bear clan of the Mohawk Nation situated in the Grand River Territory of the Six Nations in Ontario. For 10 years, Diane worked both as an independent consultant and partner within Tribal Sovereignty Associates; a North American Native consulting firm specializing in the design, development and delivery of community-based training programs for Aboriginal people. For the past 23 years, she has also worked on contract with the First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) as a learning facilitator and instructor. In 1995, Diane was appointed coordinator of FNTI's human service programs and became responsible for various program design, delivery and implementation issues and strategies. In 2002, Diane's contract was expanded into the PLAR and Aboriginal Education consultancy that she currently holds. In this position, she is responsible for in-service teacher training within FNTI and acts as an educational program liaison in conjunction with FNTI's partner institutions. In September of 2004, Diane assumed the role of Academic Coordinator responsible for curriculum development and delivery of training materials relevant to FNTI's Native Social Service Worker program. She also retains a part-time practice as a traditional healer/counsellor and writer.

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.