St. Paul – A request asking the Town of St. Paul to explore restoring the community’s original name, St. Paul des Métis, has returned to the council table.

The correspondence from Grant Lacombe, Secretary of Harvesting and Culture with the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, was included on council’s Aug. 24 agenda under correspondence requiring action after first coming before council in May.

Lacombe is asking the Town to consider two things: exploring the restoration of the St. Paul des Métis name and installing a wooden Red River cart at a prominent entrance to the community to recognize the area’s Métis heritage.

A request tied directly to St. Paul’s history

In his May 4 letter to Mayor Glenn Andersen, Lacombe described the issue as one of deep significance to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and Métis citizens whose families are connected to the community.

“Established in 1896, St. Paul des Métis was the first Métis settlement of its kind,” Lacombe wrote.

Lacombe said the history changed dramatically in 1909 when the land was opened to non-Métis settlers.

According to his letter, Métis families were forcibly displaced and lost their homes, farms and community. He also pointed to the resilience of Métis people who continued advocating for recognition and self-determination, efforts he said contributed to the formation of the Métis Nation of Alberta, now the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.

The request also has a personal connection for Lacombe. He identifies himself as the great-great-grandson of Laurent and Eleanor Garneau, one of the founding families of St. Paul des Métis.

Two requests for the Town

Lacombe’s letter does not simply ask St. Paul to acknowledge its former name.

It specifically asks the Town to explore restoring the community’s original name, St. Paul des Métis, in recognition of its foundational history.

The second request is more visible. Lacombe would like the Town to consider installing a wooden Red River cart at a prominent entrance to the community to acknowledge St. Paul’s Métis heritage.

“These actions would represent important steps toward honouring the history of the land and fostering a stronger relationship grounded in respect and recognition,” Lacombe wrote.

He also offered to continue the conversation with the Town and discuss the requests in greater detail.

Council first discussed the request in May

When the letter originally came before council in May, no decision was made to restore the St. Paul des Métis name.

Mayor Glenn Andersen explained at that meeting that he had received the letter and wanted the rest of council to see what was being requested.

“And I thought it was incumbent on me to share it with all of them,” Andersen said during the May meeting.

That first discussion essentially put the request on council’s radar.

Now, more than three months later, the original correspondence has been placed back before council, this time under the Aug. 24 agenda’s Correspondence Requiring Action section.

The request itself should not be confused with an approved name change. Lacombe is asking the Town to explore restoring the historic name, and the material available does not show that St. Paul has approved changing its name.

What it does show is that a conversation that started in May has returned to the council table.