Duguay remembered

St. Boniface

The Métis and St. Boniface communities lost a prominent, powerful figure last month.

Paulette Duguay was president of the Union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba (UNMSJM) for 10 years — from 2014 to 2024 — and devoted her career to protecting and uplifting the Franco-Métis community in Winnipeg, as well as across Manitoba. She was regularly seen at events such as the annual Festival du Voyageur, leading the march on Louis Riel Day, representing the union near the front of the fray.

She died on Aug. 17 at the age of 70. The loss “sent shock-waves through the Métis Francophone community and the bilingual municipalities of Manitoba,” said Ivan Normandeau, president of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, in a statement issued soon after her passing.

“Duguay left an enduring mark on Manitoba through her unwavering commitment to the recognition and enrichment of the (Franco-Métis) community,” he said, in the same release.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Paulette on numerous occasions at community events, where her warm and dynamic presence was always felt,” said Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface). “Her passing is deeply felt throughout the community and she leaves behind a wonderful legacy. Her work was a true calling, dedicated to bringing people together and strengthening community ties.”

The UNMSJM, established in 1887, is a group dedicated to uniting, protecting and representing the French-speaking Métis community, as well as to develop and promote Métis traditions, culture and history.

It offers year-round programming, offered entirely in French, that covers everything from picnics and community events — Rendez-Vous Rivyayr Seine, for example — to traditional workshops on beading, weaving, drumming and more.

The UNMSJM also hosts multiple summer camps, such as the intergenerational family camp, established in 2019 and hosted in St. Malo, Man., over three days, to allow for Métis families to pass traditions and culture to their younger relatives.

“Many of us knew Paulette as a friend and fierce advocate for the preservation of the French language, and we thank her for her tireless advocacy as she makes her journey to her new home,” stated a representative from the Manitoba Métis Federation.

Paulette will be remembered for her role in allowing French programming and opportunities for Métis people to learn and grow with one another, as well as her work in promoting reconciliation within the St. Boniface community. Her influence is felt the most deeply there and remains represented through Paulette Duguay Street, a dedicated road in the stockyards framed by Archibald and Marion Street.

The UNMSJM will continue to uplift the Métis community through events and education.

Visit en.unmsjm.org for more information.