Julie C. Bull sees life as more than a destination

Julie C. Bull ("I always stress the 'C'," she laughs) had a revelation in January 1998: "I put my life on hold 'until I lose weight,' and I finally asked myself, 'Self, what if you never lose weight? Then you will never enjoy life!" She decided "then and there that I was going to start living now."

Bull, or "Jewels" as friends and family know her, has certainly made up for lost time. In the past year and a half, this Canadian has traveled to Israel and Jordan, made two journeys to Hawaii and has visited the West Coast of Canada on several occasions. When asked her favorite destination, Bull proclaims, "Anywhere there are mountains, forests and water."

When she's not travelling, Bull, 26, makes her home in Edmonton, Alberta and is the education coordinator for the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations. There, she analyzes policies and initiatives that come from the federal government and reports the ways in which these policies affect treaty rights to the 23 education directors in Treaty Six Territory, which covers central Alberta, central Saskatchewan, and a small part of Manitoba. Once the education directors review the material, Bull, who is a member of the Cree tribe, is often called upon to present their recommendations to the Chiefs of the 17 First Nations (Reservations) in the Treaty Six Territory. She states, "Our office was created to serve as a united political voice to protect and enhance (the) Treaty Six (area)."

This multi-faceted woman is also a writer. Currently, Bull is working on a series of books for children in grades 1 - 3, which feature a Cree girl who meets other indigenous children from all over the world, and through their adventures, share their cultures with each other and with the reader. Bull asserts, "I have been exposed to a lot of resources for schools, and there is a serious lack of material that is First Nations-focussed. So, I thought I would do something about that."

When she has spare time, Bull enjoys taking classes on topics that interest her. "A few years back, I took a class in private investigation, (a subject) that intrigued me for a long time." These days, she comments, "I'm looking into a drama class and a class in stand-up comedy."

Although she leads a busy life, Bull says, "I know when I need to replenish my soul - and I do it!" According to her, "Nothing is better than a cup of tea, with candles or incense burning and soft music in the background - and perhaps a sunset."

In her 26 years, Bull has learned life's lessons well. "Life is not about a destination; it's about the journey along the way. It's about the lessons you learn, the healing you go through, and the quality of life you create." She concludes, "It's about living life in the moment, and knowing that's where the power lies."

And as Julie C. Bull continues living in the moment, more power to her!