The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is urging the Town of St. Paul to acknowledge its Métis heritage and revert to its original name, St. Paul des Métis. Grant Lacombe, the provincial secretary of harvesting and culture for the government, emphasized the importance of recognizing the community’s overlooked history by restoring its historic name. Lacombe mentioned in an interview with CBC that renaming the town back to St. Paul des Métis would be a positive step in acknowledging past injustices and unresolved historical issues.
Established in 1896 as a Métis agricultural settlement, the community faced challenges when the federal government opened the lands to non-Métis settlers in 1909, leading to protests and the departure of many Métis families. St. Paul des Métis, also known as St-Paul-des-Métis, was officially renamed to St. Paul in 1936 upon its town incorporation. The push for the name change holds personal significance for Lacombe, as he is descended from one of the original families of St. Paul des Métis.
In addition to the name restoration, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government is requesting the installation of a traditional Red River cart at a prominent community entrance. Lacombe emphasized the symbolic importance of the cart in representing Métis identity and welcoming inclusivity. Despite making multiple attempts to engage with the Town of St. Paul, the government’s requests for a meeting have gone unanswered, prompting calls for respectful dialogue and collaboration to address the town’s history.
In response to the situation, Steven Jeffery, chief administrative officer for St. Paul, stated that the town had received the government’s letter but had not been directed by the council to follow up. Jeffery expressed openness to further discussions with Métis representatives to deepen understanding of the community’s history and work together towards shared goals. The Town of St. Paul aims to foster inclusivity and mutual learning in partnership with the Métis Nation.
