Maskwacis, Hobbema Reserve

This Ojibwa community is actually 2 communities. One is located within Ermineskin District and the other within Samson District of Hobbema Reserve which is located in central Alberta. Samson District is located about a half a mile south of Ermineskin. Below are google earth photos of this town. Look for a red line. Below that line, is that part of Maskwacis at Samson District. These communities used to be named Hobbema. However, as a result of chief Rocky Boy and his family founding Hobbema Reserve, they changed the name from Hobbema to Maskwacis. Reason for their action was to conceal Hobbema Reserve being an Ojibwa Reserve. During 1876-1877's War at Montana, chief Rocky Boy and his family fled up to the Cypress Hills of Alberta and Saskatchewan. So did chief Big Bear and chief Sitting Bull. Chief Rocky Boys father and uncles founded Hobbema Reserve! It is very difficult to determine what this towns population is because Canada does not provide demographics for Ojibway Reserve towns populations. Only Reserves. So when they detail this towns population, they always tell you it's about 10,000. That's incorrect however. There's only around 8,000 people living throughout all 4 Districts of Hobbema Reserve. Using google earth, I counted over 160 housing units at Ermineskin Maskwacis and around 265 in Samson Maskwacis. During 2016's census, they reported Ermineskin District average household size to be 5.3 persons per household. Ermineskin Maskwacis has around 160 housing units. It's population is around 800 to 850. Samson District has 785 total housing units according to 2016's census. Samson Maskwacis has around 265 housing units. Average household size for Samson District is 4.3 persons per household. Population of Samson Maskwacis is around 1,200. Total population for both communities is around 2,000. However, it's possibly less. There are many businesses within both communities that offer employment. Why is crime rampant there? These communities are attractive yet for some reason they have to deal with high crime rates. Chief Rocky Boy's son or grandson Robert Smallboy, led over 100 Ojibway's off this Reserve in 1968, to get away from what was rampant then and supposedly worse now. He was very much like his father or grandfather chief Rocky Boy. Chief Rocky Boy would not tolerate disobedience and neither did Robert Smallboy. In 1959, Robert Smallboy became chief of Ermineskin. He held that position until 1969 or after he fled his Reserve.

Maskwacis Satellite Image

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup