In 1998, after nearly twenty years as a journalist, photographer and graphic designer, Maisie MacKinnon became the managing editor for the northwest bureau of Indian Country Today. When the national newspaper sold to the Oneida Nation, she went to work for another Native American agency as the communications officer at South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency.
Today she is a freelance writer, photographer and graphic designer for many Native organizations, but she primarily serves the National Indian Women’s Health Resource Center (NIWHRC). Her assignments include developing culturally relevant health brochures, booklets, posters, presentations, magazines, training manuals and curricula.
“I am very fortunate to have my work,” Maisie says. “I travel to tribes from Arizona to Alaska and meet with women Elders who want to share their good health habits with other Indian women. My life has changed dramatically for the experience.” Many friendships have developed.
Maisie is not of American Indian descent. In fact, she is a full-blooded, American-Scottish lass who traces her roots back to the MacKinnon Highlander Clan on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Maisie’s latest work includes the September 2007-08 issue of Native Women’s Wellness , for NIWHRC, which was funded by the CDC’s Division of Cancer Control and Prevention’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
Other organizations that Maisie contracts with include the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, ONABEN, The Association of American Indian Physicians and others.
For more information on the National Indian Women’s Health Resource Center, visit www.niwhrc.org.
© 2007,
Maisie MacKinnon . Cultural Communications15137 S. Burkstrom Road . Oregon City, OR 97045
Phone: 503-557-7668 . maisie@maisiemac.com