On July 19, more than 1,000 constituents of Mamawi Atosketan Native School gathered at Foothills Camp and Retreat Centre at a program recognizing the long partnership of MANS and members of the Maskwacis community. Eleven past and current principals were honored along with seven members of the Maskwacis community.
When the school opened in 1984, it was a single room lean-to attached to the Samson United Church. Within five years, the school was 250 students strong.
Since that time, principals and outstanding parents have shared a vision to continue the MANS education option, working together to establish an essential bus service as well as three school buildings off-reserve. These visionary principals and representative members of the Maskwacis community were recognized for their Mamawi Atosketan spirit—”Working Together”—which has brought the relationship to the next level: the Mamawi Atosketan Centre (MAC).
The centre, which will be adjacent to Samson Cree Nation lands between Second and Third Streets, is projected to open in 2026 to serve all ages in the Maskwacis community.
The design of the new centre, created by three Andrews University-trained architects with input from the community plus a Cree student under Chris Hoyt (CH Architects), was unveiled by MAC building committee chair Ken Wiebe.
Chief Randy Ermineskin responds to the presentation of his “Education and Reconciliation Award” in recognition of the chief’s valuable contribution to the Inspire Mamawi Leadership Program at MANS and to the understanding of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Alberta regarding Indigenous peoples.
Maskwacis resident Bella Potts receives a Leadership Development Award for her leadership and dedication to creating a center that will serve and collaborate with the community.
Principal Michael Willing receives his trophy from a current student as past principal Roxanne McPherson looks on. The six principals present received trophies of recognition from members of the Inspire Mamawi Leadership-Summer student team that is based at MANS and led by Maskwacis pastor and chaplain Tsholo Sebetlela and industrial arts teacher Jonathan Belinsky.
The Mamawi Atosketan Centre exterior was created by CH Architects with Ciaran Head-Smith (Opaskwayak Cree Nation). The community space will be open to the four nations of Maskwacis in 2026.
