Our Story

Lebret is a historic community where early First Nations travelled this region during a period with heavy dependence on bison of the Northern Plains. The first to refer to the “Qu’Appelle Valley” were the fur traders who were principally independents or employees of the NorthWest Company and the Hudson Bay Company.  At the same time, our Métis ancestors, were also moving back and forth across the southern prairies from as far west as Fort Walsh, north to Lac La Biche, and east to the great lakes, following the buffalo.  Métis were hunting, fishing, trading, serving as entrepreneurs, translators, provisioners of the posts, and canoe men and middlemen, while women served as equally important role in their communities, responsible for the well-being of the children, the elders, gathering plants, cooking, cleaning and other roles that kept the families intact and contributing to the larger groups.  Lebret and the surrounding areas have been our families’ home for many generations.  Our ancestors travelled from St. Francois Xavier and other parishes within the Red River Settlement to the Qu’Appelle Valley and beyond.  This beautiful village with its historic and cultural presence of Métis and the folks who helped establish and build this community is evident along the valley, lakes and river system.

Many of our people settled on lands in and around the village or on road allowances nearby.  The valley became the home of our kokum’s and moshum’s (grandparents), aunts and uncles, cousins and all other Métis who came to the valley as far back as the early 1800’s.  It’s the place we have called home for many years even after several of us had moved to the cities for education and employment opportunities.