Hanson, William (1925-)

As a federal public servant, Bill Hanson promoted Aboriginal employment both provincially and nationally. Born in Cormorant Lake, Manitoba, in 1925, Hanson served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He then returned to Winnipeg and was educated at the Manitoba Technical Institute. In 1954, he began his career with the National Employment Service, becoming its youngest manager and the only one of Aboriginal ancestry. Later, Hanson worked as the northern Saskatchewan area manager, special projects officer, and advisor on Aboriginal issues for the federal government. Following his retirement in 1981, Hanson helped create the Interprovincial Association on Native Employment Inc. and served as its executive coordinator. He was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2000.

Canadian Plains Research Center