Ms. Elissa Whiteknife
Parent Liaison
I am a proud member of the Fort McKay First Nation and the eldest daughter of the late Elsie Fabian. I was born in Fort McMurray, raised in Fort Smith, NWT but moved back to Fort McMurray in 1989. Returning to my roots has allowed me to embark on a journey of self-discovery and ignite my passion for learning my culture and helping those around me. When the opportunity to work at the Elsie Fabian School arose, it seemed fitting to help carry on my mother’s legacy and give back. Here, I have the privilege and pleasure of bridging the school and families together as one community.
Over the years, I have been blessed with an amazing husband, Kelly, two beautiful children, Riley and Reanna, as well as two wonderful grandsons, Benson and Bryson. As my family continues to grow, I strive to be the strong willed woman that my mother was, and provide my family with a safe, loving home. Taking time for family vacations, sharing the knowledge of our culture, and family traditions has been an important part of building our lives together and staying connected to who we are.
Prior to beginning my new venture at the Elsie Fabian School, I was a stay at home mom to my children for ten years. As they grew, I knew that giving back and becoming involved within my community was something that I wanted to do. This led me to accept a position with the Fort McMurray Catholic School District as an Indigenous Liaison with both Father Mercredi and Holy Trinity students. This role allowed me to be a voice and ally for the Indigenous students of our schools. As time passed and my children were older I took a position with the Fort McKay First Nation in the Education Department where I assisted the E-Learning students for a brief period then moved into the role of Post- Secondary Education Coordinator for several years which led me to the position of Indigenous Liaison for our Fort McKay students that were bussed to town.
My previous experiences have brought me to my current position as Parent Liaison. This role allows me to create connections and loving relationships within my own community. Following in the footsteps of my late mother, her kindness and compassion, I feel honored to give back to my community and support our families throughout their educational journey. Carrying on my mother’s love of education and community has been a dream of mine, and I strive to make her proud of the educational environment we are building everyday.