St. Paul de Métis
Today, where Highway 36 crosses the North Saskatchewan River, situated
across the river from each other are the two communities of Duvernay and
Brosseau. It was in this area where St-Paul-des-Cris was established.
Before any of the Europeans arrived in this area of Canada, it was
known as atapeskuteweyak (the prairie which comes out of the river).
About a kilometretre upstream of the two communities was a shallow in
the river that was used for thousands of years by the original
inhabitants of this territory who were of Chipewyan and Blackfoot
descent. The high concentration of travellers in the area was one of the
main reasons that this site was chosen for a mission by the late Father
Lacombe. The missionary had come to the region in 1864 to introduce the
Métis and First Nations peoples to the European concepts of agriculture
and religion.
In 1866, there was an attempt at settlement in this area. The mission
of St-Paul-des-Cris was established, but was eventually abandoned. The
local Cree populations had not adopted the agricultural lifestyle
promoted by the clergy and, with the consistent failure of crops, there
was an apparent lack of enthusiasm for farming on the part of the
community. After a devastating smallpox epidemic that decimated the
colony's Cree population, the mission was closed in 1874.
The final name change came in the early 1900s and was named after the
first homesteader Edmond Brosseau, whose descendents still live in the
immediate area.
Today a historical monument sits on the north bank of the river in
remembrance of the late father and his contributions to the people and
the area.
St. Paul des Metis, Alberta:
In 1884, St. Paul (Meoomen) Cardinal, a Métis soldier and veteran of
the Red River Resistance, settled at the Métis wintering spot that was
to be named after him. For 20 years after the failure of St-Paul-des-Cris,
various legal difficulties kept Father Lacombe from beginning another
project.
In 1895, Father Lacombe managed to convince Father Thérien to work in
what some called the Métis utopia. Father Lacombe and the Métis favoured
the Buffalo Lake region, but Fathers Thérien and Morin favoured the
Morinville area. All men finally agreed upon St-Paul-des-Métis.
Obstacles related to land grants were dealt with through Ottawa. In
1895, Father Lacombe approached the federal government about the
establishment of a Métis Reserve in Northern Alberta. His efforts paid
off, and in 1896, the federal government agreed to lease four townships
to the Oblate Fathers. The Church was granted a 21-year lease by the
Federal cabinet, and the colony was known as St-Paul-des-Métis until
1913.
In January 1896, the colony of St. Paul-des-Métis was declared
officially open by Father Albert Lacombe. Fathers Lacombe and Thérien
attracted the Métis to the settlement with the promise of land (lots of
80 acres) and Catholic schooling for their children. Small farming
parcels were then sublet to Métis families. The necessary farming
implements and supplies were never provided and many families
experienced a difficult time. Regardless, some families became quite
adept at agricultural pursuits and had large herds of cattle and horses.
In January 1896, following the recommendation of Father Lacombe,
Bishop Grandin appointed Father Adeodat Thérien as the spiritual
caretaker of a colony for the Métis population.
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