Erica Augustine

When Erica Augustine first arrived in Fort McMurray 11 years ago, she expected to stay for one year. Instead, she found a community that felt like home. What was meant to be temporary became the foundation for her greatest purpose.

Originally from Esgenoopetitj First Nation in New Brunswick, Erica has always carried a deep sense of cultural pride and responsibility. Yet it took time for her to recognize that her path was meant to center around that identity. She began her career in accounting, believing it was the practical route. Everything changed in 2022 when a supervisor looked at her and said, “Whenever you are involved with your Indigenous culture, you light up.” That moment became the turning point.

From then on, Erica committed herself to helping others, especially Indigenous people, break barriers and access meaningful opportunities. Today, she is a business owner of Aquila Consulting Executives and Militaw Training Academy, as well as an Indigenous and Rural Relations Advisor for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Across every role, her mission is clear: to connect industry, government, and Indigenous communities in ways that create lasting impact.

For Erica, the most rewarding part of her career is creating opportunities for others. She sees herself as a bridge-builder, helping ensure Indigenous voices are not only heard but centred. Whether she is facilitating partnerships or designing training models, she is focused on empowerment and equity.

Her leadership extends far beyond her professional work. Erica has spent five years with Victim Services to provide culturally grounded support for those in crisis. She volunteered for two years with the SPCA because of her love for animals. She co-founded McMurray Malt Maniacs, a community group that emerged during the pandemic as a way to bring people together through conversation, laughter, and shared experience. What began as a whisky club became a hub for fundraising and connection. She now also serves as a board member with NAABA, driven by gratitude and reciprocity.

Personally and professionally, Erica is in a season of growth. She has completed her Life and Wellness Coach certification and her Leadership Wood Buffalo program, and she is pursuing an MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership at Simon Fraser University. She plans to expand MILITAW into Indigenous and rural communities across the country, building a mobile training model that serves over one thousand learners in the coming years. She also hopes to establish herself as a life coach for marginalized and Indigenous people, offering programs and retreats that promote healing and self-determination.

Her perspective on community involvement is grounded in lived experience. Growing up with an Indigenous worldview taught her the importance of reciprocity and collective strength. For Erica, serving the community is not optional. It is a responsibility and a way to honour those who came before.

She believes one of the greatest challenges facing the region is the lack of accessible training and employment opportunities for Indigenous people, especially in remote areas where transportation and infrastructure are limited. Her solution is to meet those communities where they are and build systems that are culturally relevant and responsive.

Looking ahead, Erica sees herself playing a key role in shaping a future where Indigenous voices are central to regional growth. She wants to ensure that progress is not only economic but also inclusive, respectful, and collaborative.

Above all, she wants others to know that purpose has no deadline.

“Finding your passion has no age limit,” she says. “Success is not defined by titles or timelines. It is defined by the courage to follow your calling and the willingness to lift others as you rise.”