Legare Family and Metis History

The most prominent figure in the Legare family history and the family connection to the Metis is Jean-Louis Legare.

As an adventurer, explorer fur trader, and entrepreneur Jean-Louis Legare’s life took many turns, the most significant was the befriending and support for the Lakota Sioux peoples as they sought refuge in Canada.

The 1993 the Jean-Louis Act, was enacted in the Saskatchewan legislature is a document that expresses appreciation for the life, compassion and the actions of our Great Great Grandfather Jean-Louis Legare.

Jean-Louis Act 1993
CHAPTER 58
An Act to recognize Jean-Louis Légaré
(Assented to June 22, 1993)
WHEREAS Jean-Louis Légaré owned and operated a fur trading post at Wood Mountain in south-west
Saskatchewan during the time that Chief Sitting Bull and his people sought refuge from the United States
Cavalry in that area in the years 1876 through 1881;
AND WHEREAS Jean-Louis Légaré supplied food, shelter and hunting supplies for these nearly 5,000
exhausted and hungry people for which he received little compensation;
AND WHEREAS Jean-Louis Légaré kept the peace between these people and those of the United States
and Canada and their military and police forces during those troubled years;
AND WHEREAS Jean-Louis Légaré was never fully compensated or rewarded as promised by both the
United States and Canadian governments of the day;
AND WHEREAS it is deemed appropriate that the present peoples of Saskatchewan recognize the
valuable and historic significance of Jean-Louis Légaré’s contribution in there aforementioned matters;
NOW THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly
of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows:
Short title
1 This Act may be cited as The Jean-Louis Légaré Act.
Recognition of Jean-Louis Légaré
2 The people of Saskatchewan hereby recognize the heroic efforts, humane compassion and personal
financial sacrifice made by Jean-Louis Légaré with respect to Chief Sitting Bull and his people during
their years of refuge in what is now the Province of Saskatchewan.
Coming into force
3 This Act comes into force on the day of assent.

The above act is a recognition for Jean-Louis Legare’s work and compassion with the indigenous populations of the area.

It is not a reflection of the total contribution Jean-Louis made to Southern Saskatchewan, Western Canada, The Metis population and the areas of Wood Mountain and Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan.

Jean-Louis Legare worked with and supported the Metis population, married a Metis woman and had Metis partners in his businesses and worked with the Canadian federal government to broker deals with Sitting Bull and his followers for safe passage back to the US and also with the government as a liaison during the Metis rebellions. He was so trusted he was asked to pick the Metis scouts during the NW uprising.

Jean-Louis was also an interpreter for several Indian and English treaty negotiations, his first language was French, he was fluent in English, spoke some Lakota and Cree dialects and could get by in Metis Michif language as well,.

We want to trace is story and the related Metis ancestors who are part of the Legare Family legacy, it shaped our provinces and out lives.