Labatte & Giroux’s Legacy of Leadership

Métis leadership in the Upper Great Lakes has long been shaped by resilience and collective action. Historical leaders like Michel Labatte and Pierre Giroux exemplify this proud legacy through their commitments to advocacy and community service.

After their relocation from Drummond Island, Métis in Penetanguishene quickly recognized the urgent need for a space to gather and practice their faith. When government promises of land for a church went unfulfilled, Labatte, Giroux, and other community members took action into their own hands. In 1832, they helped construct St. Ann’s Church from cedar logs, turning their advocacy into tangible results that strengthened community bonds for generations.

Their leadership continued in 1840, when both Labatte and Giroux signed the Penetanguishene Métis Petition, asserting their community’s distinct Métis rights and identity in the Upper Great Lakes.

Through building, petitioning, and service to their community, both Michel Labatte and Pierre Giroux demonstrated an enduring commitment to their people’s collective wellbeing that has continued for generations since.

See Our Sources

• LES VOYAGEURS

• Upper Great Lakes Expert Panel Submission

• Penetanguishene Halfbreed Petition, 27 January 1840

• The Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828

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