Mamawi began thanks to the efforts of an Adventist pastor who was conducting outreach to the Native people living around Hobbema, Alberta, named Basil Van Diemen.

That first year, Sandra Kiehlbauch was hired as the teacher/principal of the school, which met in a room at the back of the Maskwachees Seventh-day Adventist church.

These schools operated wherever space could be found, be it an empty building or a series of portables that were shipped in.

[8][9][10][11] Mamawi Atosketan is a full K-12 academy, operated by the Alberta Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

In addition, Mamawi teaches religious curriculum, as well as native studies courses to all grades.