The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is urging the Town of St. Paul to acknowledge its Métis heritage by reverting to its original name. Grant Lacombe, the provincial secretary of harvesting and culture for the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, emphasized the importance of restoring the community’s historical name, St. Paul des Métis, to recognize the overlooked past.
Lacombe highlighted that renaming the town to St. Paul des Métis would be a positive step in acknowledging the impact on livelihoods and addressing lingering historical grievances. The community, established in 1896 as a Métis agricultural settlement, saw the advocacy of Father Albert Lacombe for land allocation to Métis individuals amid declining bison herds. However, in 1909, the lands were opened to non-Métis settlers, leading to protests and the departure of many Métis families.
Officially renamed to St. Paul in 1936 upon its town incorporation, St. Paul des Métis, or St-Paul-des-Métis, holds significant personal history for Lacombe, whose lineage traces back to one of the original families of the settlement. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is also proposing the installation of a traditional wooden Red River cart at a community entrance to symbolize Métis heritage and welcome.
Despite multiple attempts to engage with the Town of St. Paul, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government has received no response to their meeting requests. Lacombe expressed a desire for respectful dialogue with the council to discuss their proposals and address the town’s history inclusively. In response, Steven Jeffery, the chief administrative officer for St. Paul, stated that while the town accepted the information provided by the Métis Government, no formal direction was given to follow up.
Jeffery expressed the town’s willingness to engage in further discussions with the Métis Nation representatives to deepen understanding of the area’s history and collaborate towards shared goals. The Town of St. Paul aims to foster inclusivity and cooperation to honor and preserve Métis heritage within the community.