Maskipitoon was a leader of the Cree people before the Samson Reserve was formed.  He is remembered today as peace maker and in his honour a peace carin was established in Wetaskiwin (Hills of Peace) in 1929, sixty years after his death.

KANATAKASU

SAMSON

 CHIEF

1879-99

When Maskipitoon died in 1869 a new leader Kanatakasu, also known as Samson took his place. In the Cree language the word Samson means “touching the ground”. Legend has it that Chief Samson was a very large baby and when his mother placed him in his hammock he was so heavy that he touched the ground. He became the first Chief of the new Samon Cree Nation in 1879 and served as Chief until his death on July 15, 1889.