Joachim Biron: Building with Generosity
- Ontario Métis Facts
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The generosity of Métis people has long contributed to the building of their own Métis communities and others around them from the ground up, such as the construction of the church of The Sacred Heart in Sault Ste. Marie.
In 1835, the Métis of Sault Ste. Marie successfully petitioned the Catholic bishop for permission to construct a new church on the north side of the St. Marys River, near their River Lot settlement. As a community, they not only took the initiative to advocate for the project but also to spearhead its construction.
When land was needed for the new building, Métis community member Joachim Biron demonstrated remarkable generosity by donating the property on which the church would stand. A 1901 Sault Star article would remember Joachim Biron’s generosity and lifelong commitment to the church he helped build:
“Mr. Joachim Biron who had donated the site for the church years ago, would occupy till his death the best pew in the church free of charge as a slight token of the congregations [sic] gratitude.”
Following the land’s donation, the church’s construction was guided by Joachim Biron’s fellow Métis community member, Joseph Bussineau Sr., further affirming their Métis community’s collective commitment to seeing the project come to fruition.
The church became a cornerstone of the Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis community and later the town of Sault Ste. Marie that developed after 1850. Because of Joachim Biron’s generosity, and despite periods of displacement and hardship, local Métis families continued to gather, pray, marry, and be baptised at Sacred Heart for generations. Their efforts created more than a structure; they created a lasting place of connection.
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