Elder Roy Ladouceur

“That is the most important thing; how you understand how you are connected to everything,” states Ladouceur. “Money doesn’t buy everything. Family, balance and treating people with respect; that’s what’s important.” He adds that people are too busy trying to be everything else and not really understanding the impact of balance on their lives. “If you’re not on top of that, you’re going to be tripping and falling like a child.” Born and raised in Fort Chip, Ladouceur, who says he’s pushing 70, spent time living on the banks of the Athabasca River on ACFN land from 2000 to 2019. He then moved back into town and now resides at the senior’s home. Ladouceur remains busy with his teachings, guiding Kindergarten to Grade 9 students in Fort Chip in their ancestral ways. He has been described as a very spiritual and gifted teacher, focused on teaching the youth about their ancestral responsibilities. He teaches so students remember who they are, their language; that they are the Indigenous people of the nation and their people have been around since time immemorial. “Tradition must be reflected upon and brought forward so the young ones understand why we do it this way. They are the next caretakers of the land,” said Ladouceur, who started teaching about four years ago. “It’s all part of history.” His brother, Mike Cardinal, takes care of teaching the students at Keyano College. “Me and my brother do our separate things, but similarities are in there,” says Ladouceur. Students are not the only ones he shares his traditional knowledge with, along with the four laws of the world: land, air, water and sun. He also represents his community’s interests as a senior regulatory and sustainability committee member to industry; typically, CNRL, Suncor and Syncrude. Given the community was here long before industry and will remain long after, Ladouceur explains this is why he teaches and guides both groups, so they both understand the ancestral ways and the importance of balance. “Every living thing has a purpose and its place in time, and it’s all connected to you,” he states, patting his heart. “It’s my people first and foremost. It’s good to learn from someone like me. It was Elders that helped me talk both languages, Cree and Dene.” He accepts his recognition as a YMM Builder with modesty, saying he is no more special than anyone else. “My life has been set by the Creator,” believes Ladouceur, who is one of the ACFN’s four pipe carriers. The pipe is revered as a sacred object. Pipe carriers are also described as traditional healers who pass traditions to others. “People come to me and I take that responsibility very seriously with the understanding of the impact and value of human life. It’s called the art of compassionate love and understanding.” As for words of advice for younger generations, “Understand yourself first and foremost, while you’re still young; not after what we went through; the hardships and trauma, and residential school,” advises Ladouceur, a residential school survivor. “That’s the biggest challenge of any human being, from child to Elder.” He is concerned about what technology is doing to the human mind and its contribution to the loss of connectivity and balance. “You come into this world with a heart, a mind and with spirit. That comes before technology and being railroaded into believing that all the answers are behind it. “We have to remind our young people to know themselves first.” Photo: Left to right: Harry Watchmaker, a pipe carrier from Kehewin Cree Nation, Elder Roy Ladouceur, Bredner Lewis, also a pipe carrier from Kehewin Cree Nation and Lyn Chartrand, Fort McMurray First Nation #468 and a rep from the Athabasca Tribal Council.