The Batoche and St. Laurent areas were home to approximately 1,200 settlers, the majority of which were Métis. In 1872 the Village of Batoche was established when Xavier Letendre opened a ferry crossing and built a store. By 1884 the Batoche area grew to approximately fifty family river lots.
Although home to the parish of St. Antoine, the spiritual and cultural significance of Batoche is much broader and more profound than being just another church that the Métis attended. As a place where our ancestors lived, died, and are buried, this place holds spiritual meaning to the descendants of those who fought there. It is also part of our national consciousness as the place where we made our last stand in fighting for our rights. Today, it remains a popular attraction, and many travel from across the homeland to celebrate Back to Batoche, which always falls around the date of the Métis national holiday, St. Joseph’s Day, on July 24th.
The site is also interesting from the perspective of lived religion, as the cooperation between Catholic Church and the Canadian Government in 1885 began a schism between the church and many in the community that – it could be argued – remains to this day.