Elder Mae Louise Campbell

Indigenous Elder Mae Louise Campbell has dedicated her life doing the emotionally difficult work of bringing healing, hope and balance to Indigenous female survivors of trauma, particularly those who have experienced domestic violence and/or sexual abuse. Campbell has done this, in large part, by embracing the wisdom in the teachings and spirituality of her ancestors. Much of her insight comes from her lived experience in her early life and motherhood, from which she came out strong, focused and with an impassioned calling to heal her indigenous community.

Her dedication to healing led Campbell, along with her daughter Jamie Goulet, to create and operate Grandmother Moon Lodge, in St. Laurent, Manitoba, for 25 years. Campbell, Keeper of Grandmother Moon Lodge, and Goulet hosted thousands of women at their healing gatherings, where they re-connected to the land within Indigenous spirituality and ceremonies. She and Goulet moved back to Winnipeg’s inner city to continue their healing work in service to its large Indigenous population. Campbell has also travelled all across the country to work with young Indigenous women.

Campbell has provided guidance and wisdom to leaders, staff and students in government, industry, not-for-profit and post-secondary institutions. For her work at Red River College, she was awarded their “Hidden Hero Award” in 2015, and an honorary diploma in Indigenous Social Enterprise, in 2020.

Campbell is known for her spiritual work as a lodge keeper and as the wisdom-keeper of woman’s medicine and Moon Teachings, which she generously shares. As an elder-in-residence at two post-secondary institutions, she guides through her knowledge of Aboriginal peoples’ histories, including the history of residential schools and colonization. She is the co-founder of the Kookum’s Council, working to address the social issues affecting Aboriginal children and youth, locally and globally. She worked for five years with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre.

Among her accomplishments, Campbell was the elder-in-residence at Brandon University for five years and was the elder advisor for the Coady International Institute’s Indigenous Women in Community Leadership Program, at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She is the elder-in-residence at Red River College and University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work (Selkirk campus). She successfully advocated for a rural facility for exploited girls, now part of Tracia’s Trust: Manitoba’s Sexual Exploitation Strategy. Currently, she is elder and co-founder of Clan Mothers Healing Village and Knowledge Centre, a contemporary, innovative holistic model of healing, education and training for Indigenous female victims of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.

Committed to mentorship, Campbell is the epitome of grace and dignity and compassionate sensitivity. She advocates for the understanding and valuing of Indigenous heritage, spirituality, ceremonies, and ancient ways of being and knowing among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike, for the healing and advancement of community members.

Mae Louise Campbell has been a trailblazer in the field of healing Indigenous women and girls, and in helping organizations incorporate Indigenous teachings and spiritual values.