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Métis

Before the year 1870, several Métis of Scottish, English and French ancestry left the shores of the Red River. Their relationship with the Government of Canada was strained; immigration from the east was threatening to squeeze them out. Further more, the buffalo were becoming scarce which their economy was based upon in the Red River area.

A certain number of families moved to South Central Saskatchewan to settle in Coulee Chapelle. (Coulee Chapelle was situated in the present St. Victor parish a few miles from Willow Bunch. [A coulee is a land depression made by water erosion - an ancient river bed close to Montague Lake]).

Father Decorby arrived in the area in 1868 from France. Several years later Father Lestanc succeeded the former priest. He was from Quimper, France and was fluent in French, English, Cree and Ojibwa.

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Rev. J. Decorby
1865
Southern Saskatchewan

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Father Decorby arrived in the area in 1868 from France.

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Rev. J. Lestanc
1868
Southern Saskatchewan

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Several years later Father Lestanc succeeded the former priest. He was from Quimper, France and was fluent in French, English, Cree and Ojibwa.

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St. Victor Area Coulee Chapelle
1889
St Victor (area), Saskatchewan

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In 1870 under Father Lestanc's direction a chapel was built, known as Coulee Chapelle. No lumber nor proper tools were available to build a church. Aspen poles carved with an axe, drilled by hand brace, together with hay and local clay made for a fairly good structure. The roof was made of hay and/or long slough grass. Scraped hides made for opaque window coverings and a buffalo hide for the door. The altar was made of boards from a Red River Cart and there was no seating. The photo of this home would be an example of such a structure.

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Bonneauville.
1884
Willow Bunch Area, Saskatchewan

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In 1878 a second chapel replacing the first one, was built near Legare's store in the same fashion.

The chapel from Wood Mountain was moved to the Willow Bunch area. Due to the disastrous prairie fire at Wood Mountain the faithful relocated to Willow Bunch.

In 1882, several miles east of the second chapel, Fr. St. Germain built a new chapel-residence and the site became Bonneauville.

About 1907 the faithful relocated to present-day Willow Bunch.