Julia McDougall

There is a school of thought that food brings people from different cultures together; a delicious way to learn about people with different backgrounds.

A great example of this for Julia McDougall is watching her students’ excitement as they learn to cook bannock for the first time over an open fire.

“It brings a smile to my face to see such enthusiasm while they wait in anticipation to take that first bite, and taste their bannock that they have cooked over an open fire,” she chuckles. “They are so happy and excited to cook their own bannock, and taste it for the first time. They love cooking bannock over the fire. It is usually the highlight of the day during their land-based learning.”

The lesson doesn’t stop there as they are also taught fire is sacred, and they must respect its power.

“Students come alive when they see an open fire. They are drawn to the heat and the brilliant spark of flames,” she describes. “They are told to respect the flames, and not to get too close to it.”

At the end of the day, they are asking for a bannock recipe to take with them so they can try the recipe at home.

This is McDougall’s second year as the Indigenous Student Services Cultural Teacher with the Fort McMurray Public School District (FMPSD). She can be found at Composite High School in the mornings, and at Beacon Hill School, Dr. K. A. Clark, Greely Road, and Fort McMurray Islamic School in the afternoons.

In her role, she isn’t limited to supporting students, families and staff. She can also be found offering an empathetic ear to a student who needs a quiet place to talk or unwind, visiting classes to share stories and lead activities, taking students out for land-based learning, and having virtual teachings with Elders.

“This role means a lot to me, and I am sure students and staff are benefiting learning through an Indigenous-perceptive lens,” says McDougall. “All students are involved in Indigenous learning programs; when a presentation is being offered in a classroom, all students are learning.”

Born in Fort Chipewyan and raised on her family’s trap line in Wood Buffalo National Park, McDougall has lived in Fort McMurray since the mid 1970s. Her first language is Cree, and she was hired in 2001 by the FMPSD to teach Cree classes at Greely Road School. She was seconded to work for the Alberta Teachers’ Association for two years in 2016. She is proud of the work she helped accomplish while working with six female Indigenous teachers during her secondment.

“We helped develop resources to support Alberta’s teachers and school leaders in meeting the competency for developing and applying First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Foundational knowledge.”

Both honoured and humbled to be named a Community Builder, McDougall is a Knowledge Keeper and as such, has participated in meetings, events and classroom learning, such as saying a prayer or offering a blessing, and sharing her knowledge with students.

Her involvement with her community stretches beyond the classroom as she has been involved with volunteer community organizations in various committee roles over the years. Most notably, she has been involved with the Traditional Celebration of Achievement, which began in 1998 to celebrate the Indigenous graduates in the Wood Buffalo region, the Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards (RARA), and Arts Council Wood Buffalo. She currently chairs the Traditional Celebration of Achievement.

McDougall was also involved with the Full Circle Mentoring program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wood Buffalo in 2009. It is still being offered in school today

She remains committed to furthering the reach of Indigenous education and the knowledge of Indigenous contributions to this country.

“Through my language and cultural upbringing, I foster inclusion and promote understanding to support our shared journey of reconciliation.”

McDougall’s favourite part of being a cultural teacher is sharing real life stories and keeping things real by making connections about how relationships lead to understanding the main messages in oral stories and in the creation of stories.

“Indigenous stories are inter-connected to all animate and inanimate things. I am grateful and very fortunate to have had my paternal grandfather living close by while growing up. I grew up listening to his rich oral stories.”

While sharing and raising cultural awareness, she acknowledges that creating meaning makes learning a vital part in student success and understanding.

“Students need to experience a shared vision of what counts as learning. Students especially enjoy being a part of land-based learning where they partake in hands-on learning and teamwork. They are learning together, and helping each other,” she observes.

As Canada celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, 2021, FMPSD announced the launch of an Elders’ Council, which consists of five local Elders who will advise the school district on Indigenous matters and upcoming events.

The Elders are from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Fort McMurray First Nation #468, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Métis Local 1935.

She shares FMPSD’s goal that the Elders will help voice their wisdom in many decision-making matters, and with their help, students and staff will gain knowledge, and work towards truth and reconciliation.

That same day, McDougall performed a smudging ceremony to bless a Heart Garden at École Dickinsfield. The garden is in memory of children lost to the residential school system, to honour residential school survivors and their families, and to support the efforts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Students at the school decorated the rocks, which were placed around the tree in front of the school. Students watched the ceremony on a school-wide Google meet.

Her long-term vision for Indigenous programming is not only that the school district will continue educating students and staff, but also the general public about the true history of Canada’s First Peoples and their many contributions.

That vision is well on its way as next semester, Composite High School will be offering a Cree language program and Aboriginal Studies.

Being immersed in Indigenous education, McDougall mentions that one of the highlights of her teaching career is when nominations are open for success stories for Indigenous awards. One such award ceremony is the RARAs, which recognize the positive contributions that Indigenous people (First Nation, Métis, and Inuit) are making in everyday life in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

“There have been many success stories for both adults and students’ categories,” she notes.

The other award ceremony is the Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Awards that are presented annually to recognize First Nations, Métis and Inuit students who model strength and commitment in the pursuit of their personal education path, and embrace their own gifts, strengths and potential while celebrating the ways of their people.

“It’s satisfying to hear when a student that I have nominated has been selected for this award. There is nothing more gratifying than to see a student receive a well-deserved award.”