During the pandemic, Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council provided gift cards to off-reserve members to help ease financial pressures and ensure access to essential needs. This initiative was part of our continued commitment to caring for all members, regardless of residency.

Maskwacis Cree Four Nations Safety Plan is a community-driven strategy designed to enhance safety and wellbeing across the four Cree Nations of Maskwacis. It was developed with the support of Public Safety Canada through the Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative, ensuring the plan aligns with national best practices while remaining grounded in local needs and Cree values.

A core working group made up of members from each of the four Nations led the development of the plan and continues to guide its implementation, ensuring that community voices, lived experience, and cultural teachings are at the centre of all safety priorities and actions. The Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council supports this work by coordinating the overall process, helping to move identified safety priorities into concrete programs, policies, and partnerships that benefit all Four Nations.

Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council led a collaborative project to establish a unified animal control bylaw across all four Nations in Maskwacis. This initiative centralized the Maskwacis Animal Services Department to streamline operations, reduce human-animal conflicts, and improve overall animal welfare conditions throughout the community.

A detailed proposal was submitted to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) for funding, which supported hiring a dedicated project coordinator. The coordinator successfully completed key development phases, including bylaw drafting and departmental setup. While the project milestones were met, the bylaws await formal approval and adoption by each of the four Nations to enable full implementation.

The Canadian Animal Task Force (CAFT) has delivered spay and neuter clinics in Maskwacis since 2011, helping manage pet populations and promote animal welfare. Since 2023, MCTC has partnered with CAFT, advocating for and securing annual funding to sustain these vital services.

MCTC provided a dedicated committee support to organize each clinic, coordinates logistics, and contributes additional funding as needed. The most recent clinic took place September 12-14, 2025, at the Four Nations Arena, serving community members with low-cost spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations, and microchipping. This ongoing collaboration reduces stray animals, minimizes human-animal conflicts, and supports healthier pets across Maskwacis.

The Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council (MCTC) supports youth development through career exploration programs that provided hands-on training and mentorship opportunities. Recently, MCTC placed two youth participants at the Samson Recreation Centre in Pigeon Lake, where they assisted community lead Marcella Dion with delivering engaging youth programs and activities, due to the fire they were placed at the MCTC main office to assist the administrative team.

These programs are designed to build practical skills, explore career pathways in recreation and community services, and foster long-term success. The primary objective is to empower participants to secure employment, return to school, or pursue post-secondary education.

Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council honors veterans through coordinated event collaborations, particularly for Veterans Memorial Day and Remembrance Day observances. Our program coordinator applies for funding through the Commemorative Partnership Program, enabling MCTC to provide essential support to each of the four Nations in Maskwacis. This assistance covers logistics, resources, and programming for the annual Maskwacis Remembrance Day Memorial, ensuring respectful commemoration of those who served. These efforts strengthen community unity and preserve the legacy of Indigenous veterans from Maskwacis.

Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council actively supports the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation through dedicated event collaborations. Our program coordinator applies for funding through the Celebration and Commemoration Program's specific component for this day, enabling meaningful community-wide observances. MCTC uses these resources to partner with local members to coordinate Orange Shirt Day activities that honor residential school survivors and promote reconciliation. This collaboration fosters education, healing, and unity across the four Nations in Maskwacis.

The Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council partnered with Symmetry Public Relations to launch the "Change Your Colors" campaign through the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF). An initial campaign plan fell short of the BSCF budget, prompting our program manager to submit a revised proposal that was successfully approved, enabling the project's rollout.

The campaign gained visibility with media coverage at Edmonton's Clareview Train Station on September 9, 2024, where Maskwacis leaders addressed the event. Campaign signs were prominently displayed on the Clareview train, as well as in Maskwacis, Wetaskiwin, Camrose, and Leduc, promoting community safety and awareness across central Alberta.

The Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council successfully completed a Training of Trainers program in January 2025, equipping seven facilitators with advanced skills over five intensive days. The focus was on youth facilitation workshops, covering essential techniques for engaging and supporting young participants effectively.

This training proved highly valuable, boosting our facilitators' confidence, comfort, and sense of support as they deliver youth workshops across Maskwacis. These newly skilled trainers now strengthen MCTC's capacity to empower the next generation through interactive, culturally relevant programming.

The Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council developed a comprehensive Pigeon Lake Tourism Vision document through a collaborative visioning engagement. Participants included dedicated members from Pigeon Lake, Louis Bull, Montana, Ermineskin, and Samson Cree Nations ensuring diverse perspectives shaped the plan.

This vision positions the tourism industry at Pigeon Lake as a unique opportunity to engage visitors from all walks of life, drive economic growth, preserve the region's stunning natural beauty, and educate others about Maskwacis' rich cultural heritage. It also aims to build meaningful new partnerships that honor Cree traditions while fostering sustainable development for the entire community.