Shirley Cire has worked alongside her community to bring something incredibly powerful to Maskwacis - a permanent public library. 

Cire is the Indigenous Liaison for Parkland Regional Library and Library Manager of the Maskwacis Library. 

“I’m very excited - this has been a long time coming, a lot of work, a lot of collaboration with HBMC ( Howard Buffalo Memorial Centre) - they’ve been wonderful and so helpful, and that has made this transition so much easier,” Cire said. 

Prior to having this space made available back in June, the nearly 15,000 residents of Maskwacis had to wait for a mobile library to come through a couple times a month, or else head to Ponoka or Lacombe for library services.

“Everything’s been slow, but everything has been done how we want it, so we’re pleased with that,” Cire said.

To commemorate the opening, several government officials were on the scene, including Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson and Lt. Gov. Lois Mitchell, as well as local Elder Roy Lewis. 

The event held a special significance as the second public library in Alberta to be opened on Indigenous land. The first was opened on the Kainai Nation (or Blood Nation) in the county of Lethbridge. 

The library will serve the four nations of Maskwacis -Samson Cree Nation, the Ermineskin Cree Nation, the Montana Band and the Louis Bull Tribe – with access to the Alberta Public Library Network, a range of books and DVDs for rental.

It’s been a big focus in building this library that it truly become a community place, with local artists, Indigenous authors and programs that will aim to further cultural learnings for future generations. 

Cire said she is excited to hear what the public wants to see, and is eager to bring those books and programs forward. 

Right now, she said they are looking for donations of books in excellent condition, or new books. She said, “In a year, I’d like to see the collection double.” 

In honouring Indigenous traditions and values, Cire added that she hopes Elders from the community can come together to offer story time for kids, as oral learnings and teachings pass from one generation to the next. 

Jordana Littlepoplar is currently a student, but has worked hard over many months as the Youth Programmer of Samson youth and sports development at HBMC. She said she sees a need for this space in their community, as they work towards a greater amount of literacy work for adults and youth. 

“I feel this is going to do a lot of good for our community, because literacy is something we need here for our people,”Littlepoplar said. 

She added that it’s important to have a space that is comfortable for people in their community, especially where they can explore art, literature and other works made by Indigenous people and artists.