Natalie Dawson first heard the Vidyadhara speak in Berkeley, California in 1976 and received meditation instruction at the Dharmadhatu that fall. Besides Berkeley, she was a sangha member in New York, New Haven, and Boston before moving to Halifax in 1987. She also lived at Karme Chöling as co-head of Practice and Study in 1991-92. Practice was always her primary emphasis, though she also served as dekyong, including being the first Head Dekyong in Boston for one year and co-chair of the Dekyong Council in Halifax for two years. Natalie died in Halifax in January 2011.