Teacher Erin Humphrey with PM Mark Carney
FORT McKAY — Erin Humphrey did not set out to win a national award. She set out to make math make sense to her students and to ensure their culture was present in every lesson along the way.
That work has now earned the Fort McKay educator one of the country’s highest honours for teachers, a Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
Humphrey has taught at Elsie Fabian School since it opened in 2022 and currently serves as the numeracy support teacher for all students from kindergarten to Grade 9. In that role, she supports classroom teachers, works directly with students and helps shape a school-wide approach to math instruction that is both rigorous and culturally grounded.
Her teaching blends core numeracy skills with Indigenous knowledge, weaving Cree, Dene and Métis teachings into daily learning. Lessons are often grounded in land-based perspectives, community experiences and real-world problem solving, helping students see math not as an abstract subject but as a practical tool connected to their lives, culture and environment.
The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence recognize outstanding elementary and secondary teachers from across Canada who demonstrate innovation in the classroom, inspire students and foster confidence, critical thinking and a love of learning. Recipients receive national recognition and a financial award in acknowledgment of their impact on students and school communities.
Local leaders also praised Humphrey’s achievement. Laila Goodridge, Member of Parliament for Fort McMurray–Cold Lake, said the award highlights both Humphrey’s dedication and the importance of Indigenous-led education in the region.
“Congratulations to Ms. Humphrey on receiving this prestigious award recognizing the amazing work she has done to help develop Indigenous land-based learning within the school curriculum at Elsie Fabian School in Fort McKay,” Goodridge said.
Humphrey’s work is closely tied to the vision of Elsie Fabian School, a Nation-owned school operated by Fort McKay First Nation. The school delivers a modified Alberta curriculum alongside cultural teachings, language learning and land-based education. Students learn traditional skills such as hunting, trapping and plant knowledge in parallel with academic subjects, supported by modern facilities that include Career and Technology Foundations labs and a full-sized gym with an indoor running track.
The school is named after Elsie Fabian, a respected community member who dedicated more than 25 years to serving on school boards and advocating for education rooted in culture, language and lifelong learning. Its mission is guided by the Seven Teachings of love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth, and the building is designed to serve as a central gathering place for the community, physically connected to both the Youth Centre and the Elders’ Residence.
Born and raised in Fort McMurray, Humphrey is a proud member of the McMurray Métis Association. Colleagues describe her as a collaborative leader who supports both students and fellow educators. Outside the classroom, she coaches volleyball and remains actively involved in youth activities, further strengthening her connection to the community she serves.
School officials say the national recognition reflects not only Humphrey’s individual achievement but also the broader success of culturally grounded education models in Fort McKay, where learning is rooted in identity, land and community alongside academic excellence.
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