La Barrière – A St-Norbert Heritage Site Re-Established

In collaboration with the Union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba, Entreprises Riel has led the development of a commemorative site – the site of the “La Barrière” event in St-Norbert. This project was set to launch in the context of Manitoba’s 150^th anniversary but for various reasons, the project was delayed.

One of the opening acts of the Red River Resistance was the erection of a barricade across the Pembina Trail in October of 1869. The Métis community of St-Norbert had been the site of numerous meetings over the course of the summer of 1869 under the guidance of the parish priest, Father Noël-Joseph Ritchot, and Louis Riel. It was known that William McDougall had been appointed Governor of the territory by the Canadian Government and was on his way to Fort Garry to take his post. Riel and Father Ritchot insisted that this was not to happen unless certain rights were guaranteed. Hence, a group of Métis men on horseback were sent to Pembina to greet Mr. McDougall. Upon receipt of the written warning, McDougall had elected not to proceed beyond the American border, yet on the 1st of November, two members of his proposed administration did reach the barricade and were escorted back to Pembina by Riel’s men. In celebration of the success of their efforts, Riel and Ritchot erected a cross at the site of the barricade and appended a note “Digitus Dei Est Hic” (God’s finger is here).

For several reasons, the site of the actual event was no longer identified and Entreprises Riel lead the charge to correct this. We are pleased to advise that we officially broke ground for this development in early September 2022 and held a press conference to open the site for the public on the 153^rd anniversary in October 2022. This new destination is a terrific addition to the growing list of tourism attractions in the Riel District.