Chiefs and council members, veterans and elders of the four Cree nations of Maskwacis braved Arctic cold weather conditions to take part in the unveiling of the Maskwacis cenotaph at the Samson nation on the Remembrance Day, Tuesday, Nov.12.
A short procession to the site of the memorial just on the right hand side at the entrance to Samson from Highway 2A was followed by the unveiling of the memorial by the chiefs and representatives of the four bands of Maskwacis.
The speeches made during the ceremony paid tribute to the patience and perseverance in efforts that took years to bring the project for the veterans memorial to a successful conclusion.
Cameron Alexis, Treaty 6 Regional Chief, who was among the participants in the ceremony said in his remarks that the monument unveiled was an exemplary tribute to veterans as he said he had not seen a similar monument in many of the First Nations he visits as part of his duties.
Following speeches and the observation of two minutes of silence starting with last post, the ceremony moved to indoors due to extremely cold weather.
In the course of the ceremonies, the names of veterans of the Maskwacis bands were read and a special tribute was paid to Wilton Littlechild, honourary chief of the Maskwacis Cree.