IndigenousIn 2023, sisters Shennaya and Josie Saddleback videoed the CPKC Holiday Train speeding through Maskwacis, Alta. Thanks to those videos and advocacy from a local band councillor, this year will be different. Discussions happening about a future stop in the communityListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A video of the CPKC Holiday Train speeding through Maskwacis, Alta., in 2023 was part of what inspired a Samson Cree band councillor to ask for the company to consider stopping in the community. (CPKC)Sisters Josie and Shennaya Saddleback still laugh when they talk about the Holiday Train speeding through Maskwacis back in 2023.“I feel like our people just cope with humour and laughter,” said Josie, who along with her sister is a member of Samson Cree Nation.This marks the 27th year the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railway has run the Holiday Train program raising money and collecting food to address food insecurity during the holiday season. It makes 196 stops across Canada and the U.S. and features free live musical performances to boost holiday cheer. But in Maskwacis, a community of four First Nations in Alberta, the holiday cheer seems to speed by rather fast. In 2023, Shennaya recorded a video of the train travelling at a high speed through the community. She shared it with a family group chat, and her sister followed up by posting a video of herself reacting to it on social media. “I was laughing so hard. And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, Shennaya, you caught such a good video at the perfect time,’” said Josie. Her reaction video added the sound of her laughing so hard she was gasping for air. She had a “wicked cold” at the time, she said. “I didn’t think anything would come of it,” Shennaya said. But the videos were shared widely on social media and garnered hundreds of thousands of views, resurfacing last year during the holiday season — and now change is coming. Josie, left, and Shennaya Saddleback say they never expected their videos of the Holiday Train speeding through Maskwacis to inspire change. (CBC)Samson Cree Nation Councillor and Proxy Chief Vinnie Saddleback said many First Nations have railways that go through their territories and he would like to see more effort from railway companies to connect with those communities. With that in mind, and with support from the rest of the Samson council, Coun. Izaiah Swampy-Omeasoo wrote and shared publicly a letter to CPKC asking for the train to make a stop in Maskwacis. Last year, he said, the community was still reeling from the killing of 15-year-old Hoss Lightning and Christmas was a difficult time. This year he hopes for more joy and the chance to celebrate together. Not long after he posted the letter, the railway responded, Swampy-Omeasoo said. Train to slowCPKC spokesperson Terry Cunha said the train will travel through the community “at a much slower speed” this year and that he believes the railway is in discussions about the potential to include a full stop in the future. They were unable to accommodate a stop this year because of the tight schedule, he said, but discussions about future stops in the community are ongoing. “I would like to think it demonstrates a willingness [that] while we could not accommodate a train stop this year, we’re doing our best to engage the community and provide them an opportunity to see it,” he said. Seeing positive change and having a local event around the Holiday Train is a chance to make that happen, said Swampy-Omeasoo. He said it also sends a signal about how some issues can be addressed. “First Nations people have gone through decades and decades and decades of having their voices silenced and having their issues sort of cast aside on national, regional and provincial levels and I think really right now we’re seeing a societal shift in that,” he said. The Holiday Train will be slowing down as it travels through Maskwacis this year and the community is celebrating with its own gathering. (Submitted by Izaiah Swampy-Omeasoo)Josie and Shennaya said they were pleased to hear that the train could stop in Maskwacis in the future. “[The video] was just for fun and then it turned into a whole, like, advocating for the community and being part of that Christmas spirit,” Shennaya said. They also said they were grateful to Swampy-Omeasoo for his advocacy.Both sisters said they plan to attend the community’s Holiday Train event on Dec. 8. It will feature a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, snacks, hot chocolate and a chance to watch the train roll slowly through the community, according to Swampy-Omeasoo. ABOUT THE AUTHORSamantha Schwientek is a reporter with CBC Indigenous based in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). She is a member of the Cayuga nation of the Six Nations of the Grand River, and previously worked at CBC Nova Scotia.
Maskwacis to get slower Holiday Train this year after video poked fun at it speeding through
