St. Laurent, Manitoba
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St. Laurent is a community in Manitoba located on the shore of Lake Manitoba on highway #6. The population is approximately 1,200, and many of the residents are Indian. St. Laurent is officially a bilingual community.
In the summer, the population of St. Laurent nearly triples as cottagers flock to the community to spend their summers along the Lake Manitoba shore.
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[edit] The Manipogo Festival
The Manipogo Festival is a festival during the winter. It is usually held on the first week of March. The location of this Festival is at Sandpiper Beach. This Festival is held annually. It is about 5-10 mins from number 6 high-way. The types of activities you can find there are snowshoeing, ice-fishing, bombadiering, boot hockey, socials, etc..
[edit] Agriculture in St. Laurent
In St. Laurent, there is very rocky land, which is good for producing grass for pastures, hay or you can grow grain but it's not overly good land for this because of the lack of topsoil. There is a lot of low land that is too wet for working with machines; and a lot of land that is busn and marsh. A good indication as to the quality of the land in St. Laurent is to notice the trees that are growing there. If there are large trees or thick young poplar bluffs, it tells you that the land is productive. This could either be on low land or ridges. Oak trees are found on productive land on ridges and indicates that it could also be very rocky land, this type of land would be hard to cultivate and would therefore not be productive. Ridges in St. Laurent run south-east and north-west. Marshland is used only by wildlife; wooded areas are used as pasture for beef, horse or sheep. In St. Laurent, most farms or land is used for mixed farming; better land is used for tame hay or grain crops and poorer land is used to make hay or pasture for animals. If a farmer was to choose only one type of land the other would be wasted. The land in St. Laurent is quite different from the land in Southern Manitoba, which is higher quality prime land throughout.
[edit] St. Laurent School
There are many schools in St. Laurent, St. Laurent School, École Communautaire Aurèle-Lemoine and the Aboriginal Head Start. In St. Laurent school the main language of instruction is English. French classes are also taught. In É.C.A.L the main language is French. English classes are taught but the rest of the day the students are taught French. The Aboriginal Head Start isn't necessarily a school but is a program that get younger kids ready for school. There are people from all over the region that come to these schools, such as, St. Ambroise, Woodlands, Lake Francis etc. St. Laurent school and É.C.A.L are two schools in the same building. In the past it used to be one big school but now it is cut in half to make a French school and an English school. St. Laurent Schoold hosts kids from the age of kindergarten to grade twelve. É.C.A.L is the same age group. The Aboriginal Head Start hosts kids from the age of three to the age of four years old. There are many teachers and substitutes that work at these schools.
[edit] St. Laurent Beaches
There are eight beaches in St.laurent. They are Twinbeach, Pineer resort, Sandpiper, Laurentia beach, Johnson beach, Longbeach, Mckenzie bay and Meindl park. They are all nice beaches. Most of the people go to Mckenzie Bay because it becomes deep fast. All the beaches have really nice views. In winter the lake is frozen and everybody goes icefishing. Icefishing is very popular in St.laurent because of the Manipogo. Most peoples go icefishing at Meindl Park or Mckenzie Bay because there are lot of walleye, perch, pike and burbot.
[edit] Music
In St. Laurent, fiddling is the traditional music that comes from the Métis culture (traditional Métis fiddling). Throughout the year the music is played at the many festivals in St. Laurent as well as other venues. There is a fiddling program that goes on within every Thursday (school days) of the school year for the people of the community that have the interest in learning or improving their fiddling skills. The lessons are taught by Mark Morriseau from Portage La Prairie, with the help by Lionel Vouriot who plays the acoustic guitar for Back 40. St. Laurent is also the hometown of the well known fiddler, Émile Lavallée.
St. Laurent has about six bands. Most of which play country and the Métis Fiddling. The bands are:
Coulée likes to compose their own music and play the traditional fiddling as well as French music. As of now they have two CDs released- “Coulée Lac Des Rêves” and “La Belles Tremblières”.
Back 40 likes a various arrange of music such as-Métis fiddling, country music, French music and a little of the old rock. They have a self titled album to be released soon.
The Gaudry Boys And Friends is a newly structured band that plays the traditional fiddling. They are in the making of their first CD together. The Gaudry Boys have an album as well- “The Barn Dance”.
Crossroads is a country music playing kind of band who also plays your fiddling tunes.
The Country Pride Band is your old time country band. They have two CDs released at the moment-“The Country Pride Band” and “Hommage A Tribute To Neil Gaudry”.
Ernie And The Poor Boys are a rock and roll band.
Click here to listen to The Red River Jig by Émile Lavallée. Click here to listen to samples of music from Coulée.
[edit] Sports
There are a lot of sports played in St. Laurent. Hockey, the team name is St. Laurent Sharks. The arena is looked after by Laurent and Barbara Kerbrat. The sports committee helps run the arena. Soccer, we don’t really have a team name for the St. Laurent soccer players. There is usually about 4 teams each year. Basket-ball, they are known as the St. Laurent Hawks. There are about 30 basket-ball banners from the years 1986- 2008. Golf, The local golf course is called the Manipogo Golf + Country Club. Golf Punks a summer golf camp is usually held in the summer time. Volley-ball, There usually are two teams, 7 and 8's and the varsity . Badminton, we have grades 7-12. It’s trough the DSFM, we have tournaments with the other DSFM teams. Bowling, we just go for birthday party’s and sometimes we also go for our gym class. There is also league bowling. Rec-center, we have our bowling lane on the rec- center and we also have our bingo night’s. Track and field, we have that each year with the school.
[edit] Taekwondo
The Taekwondo Master teaches Taekwondo classes in Winnipeg, Manitoba and travels to St. Laurent every Tuseday and Thursday for lessons. Students range from age 6 to adults. Once every three 3 months, students may test. If you pass your test you may advance to the next stage. Once you have achieved your red belt and red stripe you only test every six months. When you have achieved your black stripe, double black stripe and black belt, you test only once a year. To be able to test you have to show up to as many classes as needed, if you miss too many classes you may not be able to test to achieve your next belt. If you are doing very well in your classes then the Masters will discuss it and you may skip a belt, it is up to the Masters if they think you have done a great job!
There are 14 belts from beginning to end. They are white, yellow stripe, yellow, orange stripe, orange, green stripe, green, blue stripe, blue, red stripe, red, black stripe, double black stripe and black belt. It will take you two years to earn this degree. Taekwondo takes a lot of discipline, commitment and determination to succeed in any level.
You can learn to do different types of punches, kicks, use nunchucks, learn how to block, learn different stands, different patterns, sparring and self defense techniques. You can also enter sparring competitions and win medals and also can enter competitions for patterns.
Class starts with different types of exercises, such as punch-ups, burpies, kicks, punching, punching jacks, jumping jacks, crunches,etc.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial arts. Some words you may hear during class include: "oui Monsieur" or "non Monsieur", (Yes Sir, No Sir) Kihap (a big yell used when kicking or punching) and count "hana" (one)"doule" (two), "set" (three).
[edit] Metis Days
St.laurent has a few festivals year round but the most popular is Metis Days. Metis Days is celebrated to promote the Metis culture. Last years festival money made at Metis Days was donated to St.laurents Arena for Artificial Ice that will be made this year.
Metis Days is usually held August longweekend. The festival starts with a parade through town. Saturday there is a slowpitch baseball tournament that ends with a dance at the local Rec Centre. Sunday is a day for the family with a social at the end of the day.
[edit] Oak Point Rodeo
Every year in June or July we have the oak point rodeo. It takes place in oak point and is usually three days long. There is a campsite there where people bring their tents and campers and put up their fences where they keep their horses.
The trail ride is on Friday in the afteernoon and it goes from St. Laurent to oak point. Saturday and Sunday there are some activities for little kids, the rodeo and there is also some bands playing music.
[edit] Fishing
Ice fishing is a trade for many people. The season begins November 1st until March 15.
Commercial ice fishing has bin a trade in st_laurent manitoba for many generations. There are still many people that still work at athis trade. The season opens November 1st until march 15th. It is a busy season with hard labour and long hours. At the beginning of the season the ice is very thin so the fishermen usuly begin there sweason on foot while towing a small boat incast the ice breaks. A flotation device is usuly worne due to the danger of falling trought the ice. After the ice gets thicker skidoos and quads are the mode of transportation. The ice usuly hase to be 8 to 10 inches before the bombadier is aloud to travel on the ice. The nets mesure 90 ards and 3 inch holes some 3 3\8 inch. Some tools use are ice auger hook and jigger. the nets are set and you gote to cheque theme every 3 days so the fish are fresh. Most people now have GPS system and marine land radio. These have been life savers for some people. There aremant different tips of fish caught pickerel and perch are primaly the fish that the fishermen want. These are thene brought to the fish co_op in the town . The fish is then shipped to freshwater fish in Winnipeg. We have a celebration at the end of every fishing season in march. the celebration is called manipogo festival festival du manipogo. Summer fishing is also a favrouite pastime in the community. boat launching is located on the north side of twin lake beach.
[edit] Duck hunting
Duck hunting is a North American sport. Especially true in St. Laurent, St. Ambroise and Lake Francis. The best places to hunt around St. Laurent are in Lake Francis and St. Ambroise.There are several guides around the three towns. Every duck hunting season there are Americans that come from: Wisconsin, Minnesota,North Dakota and Michigan. There are many species of ducks to hunt from around the three locations:Mallard, Canvasback,Bluebill, Blue and Green wing Teals, Redheads,Woodducks and Shovelers(spoonbill)
[edit] Culture
Traditional Dances: Square dance Red River Jigg Crochet Dance Handkerchief Dance Broom Dance
Lucille Ducharme is known for teaching other students all these tyraditional dances. All these dances goes to a fiddle song.
She says that she can dance them all but not professionally.
Languages:
In St. Laurent there is only three languages and the languages are: Michif French English
Michif is our cultural language. It is a mix of French and Cree. For example: Haule l'trigger pi hope for the best.
English translation:Haul the trigger and hope for the best.
What a Metis person is:
A Metis person is a mix of First Nation people and people from France.
traditional Food:
Pemmican: Dried buffalo meat with berries and boiled fat Rabbaboo: It's a stew with meat and vegetables Bannock: Baked bread with lard Les Tortière: Meat pie Les baigne: fried Bread Le Flaon: Custard Poutine au Sal: Steamed Pudding
[edit] The fish shed
The ice fisherman bring fresh fish to the fish co-op. The co-op remove heads and pack the fish in ice and ship them to the (Fresh Water Fish Markeing) company processes fish and ships them around the world. The fish co-op opend 1969.
Our fisherman usually fish in winter. But somethimes in spring too. We have different types of fish. We have Pickerel, Northern Pick, Perch in winter but in spring we have fish called mullet but everyone calles them suckers. The ice fisherman enjoy fishing. Its very interesting.
[edit] Laurent Kerbrat
Laurent kerbrat is the ice maker and a local resident in St.laurent. He is dedicated to his work, he has worked in the arena for over twenty years. He is one of the most respected man in the whole town of St.laurent.
Laurent Kerbrat won the RBC (Royal Bank Of Canada) local hockey award. He won a trip to Toronto to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and 10,000 dollars for the local hockey arena.
[edit] Manipogo
The manipogo was first discoverd by fisherman and beach residents like Jules Charttrand and Florent Beaudin. The Manipogo is a serpent like creature.Olive green in colore the Manipogo lives in lake Manitoba.We celebrate a festival called ``Le festival du Manipogo`` in march 6,7,8.In britich columbia their is a lake monster to they calle it OGOPOGO withch is the cusine of the MANIPOGO.
[edit] Yvon Dumont
Yvon Dumont was born in St.Laurent,Manitoba, January 21 1951.
1967(age 16) he was a secretary treasurer of St.Laurent for the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF), he was the Director of Interlake Region in 1972(age 21). He was also Executive Vice-President of the Native Council of Canada from 1972-73 and president of the Metis National Council in 1988(age 37)-93(age 42). He was also a member of the Municipal Council, Rural Municipality of St.Laurent. (Member of Board of Governors, University of Manitoba). He`s active in several small businesses and served on national division of Aboriginal Economic Development Board. He`s the Vice Prior and knight of Justice of Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St.John of Jerusalem. He received the MMF Award in 1993 for dedicated service to Metis people of Canada and National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1996(age 45) for public service. He was awarded Honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba in 1996. Appointed to Order of Manitoba in 2001(age 50).
