Marie Battiste is Mi'kmaq, from the Potlo'tek First Nation in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She is professor in Research and Leadership in Aboriginal Education, formerly Indian and Northern Education Program, in the Dept. of Educational Foundations at University of Saskatchewan, since 1993.

A mother of three, she and her husband J. Youngblood Henderson have made Saskatoon their home after many years living in Eskasoni Reserve and working among First Nations schools and community organizations. She has several earned degrees: Ed. D. (1984) Stanford University; Ed. M. (1974); Harvard University; B.S. (1971) University of Maine, Farmington and two honorary degrees: D.H.L. 1997 University of Maine, Farmington; LL.D. 1987 St. Mary's University.

She has published many articles and scholarly papers in books, journals and documents and remains involved in research on Aboriginal education, languages and teachers and teacher education. She is co-author of (2000) Protecting Indigenous Knowledge: A Gobal Challenge, Saskatoon, SK: Purich Press; and editor of (2000) Reclaiming Indigenous Voice and Vision, Vancouver: UBC Press; and senior editor of (1995) First Nations Education in Canada: The Circle Unfolds. Vancouver: UBC Press. She recently received the 2000 First Peoples Publishing Award for Protecting Indigenous Knowledge and Heritage: A Global Challenge from Saskatchewan Book Awards.

A quest for social justice and decolonization of education have framed her writings, her speaking, and her daily life in complex and integrated ways.