Maskwacis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maskwacis
Hobbema (1891–2013)
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Unincorporated community/Hamlet
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Area surrounding Maskwacis
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 Maskwacis
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Reserves | Samson 137 Ermineskin 138 |
| Municipal district | Ponoka County |
| Established | 1891 |
| Name change | January 1, 2014 |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 0.25 km2 (0.10 sq mi) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 64 |
| • Density | 252.7/km2 (654/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Postal code |
T0C 1N0
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Maskwacis is a community in central Alberta, Canada. It used to be called Hobbema until 2014. You can find it where Highway 2A and Highway 611 meet. This spot is about 70 kilometers south of Edmonton.
Maskwacis is special because it includes parts of two Cree First Nations communities. One part is on the Ermineskin 138 reserve in the north. The other is on the Samson 137 reserve in the south. There's also a small village, called a hamlet, nearby in Ponoka County. Maskwacis also helps three other nearby First Nations reserves. These are Samson 137A, Louis Bull 138B, and Montana 139.
The name Maskwacis means "bear hills" in the Cree language. Long ago, a priest named Father Constantine Scollen called this area "Bear Hills." This was around 1884 and 1885. The first train station here was named Hobbema in 1891. It was named after a Dutch painter, Meindert Hobbema. On January 1, 2014, the community officially changed its name back to Maskwacis.
The community has places for jobs, a health board, and a college.
Contents
Where is Maskwacis Located?
Maskwacis is located where three different areas meet. These areas are the Ermineskin 138 reserve, the Samson 137 reserve, and Ponoka County. The northern part of Maskwacis is on the Ermineskin 138 reserve. It is on the west side of Highway 2A.
The southern part of Maskwacis is on the Samson 137 reserve. This part is on the east side of Highway 2A and north of Highway 611. The rest of the community is in Ponoka County. It is on the west side of Highway 2A, across from the Samson 137 area.
Maskwacis serves five reserves that belong to four Cree First Nation groups. These groups are often called the "four nations." They are all part of an important agreement called Treaty Six. The four nations are the Ermineskin Cree Nation, Samson Cree Nation, Louis Bull Tribe, and the Montana First Nation.
How Many People Live in Maskwacis?
In 2021, about 64 people lived in the main community of Maskwacis. This number was a little higher than in 2016, when 60 people lived there.
The total population for all five reserves in the area was 7,663 people in 2016. These numbers show how many people live in the different parts of the Maskwacis area.
Education and Culture
Maskwacis is home to the Maskwacis Cultural College. It also has a local TV station called CHOB-TV.
The Maskwacîs Education Schools Commission manages 11 schools. These schools are located across the Ermineskin, Samson, Louis Bull, Montana, and Ma-Me-O areas.
The Wetaskiwin Regional Division No. 11 also runs public schools that serve the area. One of these is the Pigeon Lake Regional School.
Maskwacis hosts an annual pow wow. A pow wow is a special gathering where Indigenous people celebrate their culture. They enjoy dancing, singing, and socializing.
Two famous First Nations hip-hop groups, War Party and Team Rezofficial, are from Maskwacis. A documentary called "Journey to Jamaica" was made about cadets from Maskwacis.
A writer named W. P. Kinsella wrote many short stories set in the area when it was called Hobbema. Some of his story collections include Dance Me Outside and The Fencepost Chronicles.
Notable People from Maskwacis
Many interesting people have come from Maskwacis:
- Ted Hodgson (born 1945), a retired professional ice hockey player.
- Willie Littlechild (born 1944), a lawyer and Cree chief.
- Willie Nepoose (died c. 1997–1998).
- Henry Norwest (c. 1881–1918), a very skilled sniper in World War I.
- Shane Yellowbird (1979–2022), a country music singer-songwriter.
Sports in Maskwacis
Maskwacis used to have a junior "A" hockey team. They were called the Hobbema Hawks.
