Charles Musaskapoe

Charles Musaskapoe, of the Ahtakakoop First Nations, served in WWI as a sniper. He was killed in action on August 9, 1918, by the bullet of another sniper. He died in France at the age of 22.

On 1 December 1919, King George V, on the advice of his Cabinet under Prime Minister Robert Bordon, created the Memorial Cross as a memento of personal loss and sacrifice on the part of widows and mothers of Canadian sailors, soldiers, and airmen who had lost their lives for the country during the First World War. Charles’ mother, Jane Wolfe, was awarded the silver cross medal and named Mother of the Year in 1922. This prestigious award and title are given to mothers or widows who lost a husband or child overseas.

The award has since been changed to consider all service related deaths.

Today, Charles’ name is engraved on a step at the Anglican Church in Ahtahkakoop, put there by his community so that we might never forget his sacrifice.