Marsha Hanson, BA, Elder

Commissioner Marsha Hanson (whose Blackfoot name is Tsiik’Tsa’akii – White Swan Woman) joined the Commission in November 2024, following a career in family social work.

Over her career, Commissioner Hanson has supported families in crisis and those experiencing domestic violence, offering her support through organizations such as the Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society and HomeFront. She has also served as the Indigenous Program Coordinator at Closer to Home, where she contributed to the work of the Pekewe Indigenous Healing House in the role of Elder, and shared her guidance and wisdom as an Elder with Simon House Addiction Services.

In 2016, she assisted with the program development and implementation of EE-DES-SPOOM-OOH-SCOOP.

Commissioner Hanson is Plains Cree and is part of the Muskoday First Nation in Saskatchewan. She was part of the 60s Scoop and, due to that, was not recognized with full Indigenous Indian Status until 2022. In 2017, she was honoured in a traditional Indigenous ceremony and received the title of Elder. In 2022, she received Closer to Home’s Practitioner of the Year award, and the International Award for Practitioner of the Year from the Teaching Family Association in Indianapolis. In 2023, she was nominated by the Indigenous Services Team of Calgary Police Services and received the USAY Change Maker Award for her work with the Indigenous community in Calgary and surrounding areas.

Commissioner Hanson is passionate about supporting those walking in their Indigenous journey, and helping others understand the impacts of intergenerational trauma and begin the healing process so they and their families can move forward in a good way. In May 2023, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of hosting a traditional Pow Wow in Calgary – the ‘All My Relations Healing Pow Wow’, which united the community and welcomed and honoured all Nations together.

She holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning and Land Development, and a Diploma in Business Administration and Accounting, from Mount Royal University. She also holds several certificates in Indigenous studies, supportive counselling, and addiction studies.