Josie Auger is a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation a predominantly Aboriginal community located in Wabasca, Alberta. Ms. Auger is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute. Her background includes teaching Indigenous Studies, Canadian History, and Native Health issues for the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta and Maskwachees Cultural College.

Previously she conducted research and wrote reports for the various levels of provincial and federal government, industry and Aboriginal communities on health issues such as diabetes, respiratory diseases, injuries, birth weight, mental heath, and sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

Other health related topics of interest to Ms. Auger include developing health policy using the determinants of health from a cultural perspective within Aboriginal communities, and developing an indigenous vision and model of health.

Currently, Ms. Auger is completing her dissertation on STI/HIV prevention using popular theatre and action research in an Aboriginal community.