"Oh my Metis Nation! Take courage! I see you change: It is great...
the more you lend yourself to truth... it will make you great, strong, and powerful."
Louis David RIEL, April 29, 1885
This is a collection of family histories on my mother's and father's side.
Here’s a little about my family. My father Raymond Leclair was from Quebec. I’ve been able to trace my roots back to France as far back as 1590 (Urbain Gervaise), and 1609 (Jehan Nau) on my father’s side of the family, as well as the 1600's in Normandy for my 8th great grandparents, Jacques Leclerc and Cecile Legrand.
I have Native blood on both sides of my family. My paternal great great great great grandmother’s name was Marie Binisi Okipikokive Ikwessenss. She was Algonquin/Anishnabe from near Manawaki, Ouebec. Marie was married to Andrew McPherson whose son George married Sophia Morisseau. The McPherson and Morisseau names were well known in the Fur Trade in Canada. We have ties to the 1870 Metis rebellion in Manitoba through Amable Nault, my third cousin six times removed, and Marie Josette Lagimodiere, the aunt of Louis Riel. On another note, my dad's brother Jean Louis (Jackie) Leclair played for the Montreal Canadiens in 1955-56. (See picture below)
On my mother’s side (Mary Dunbar), I can trace back to when my Cree ancestors were baptized and given the English names, Cook and Brittain in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. For example, Pupahmehkapow is Cree for "Standing Around". Poonahman is Cree for "Makes a Fire". My Mom’s side of the family comes from places such as Fort a la Corne, Coxby, Portage la Prairie, Cranberry Portage, The Pas, and Cumberland House. My cousins the Fosseneuve family of Cumberland House, Saskatchewan are also closely related to the famous explorer and trader Peter Fidler. I can trace the Dunbar clan back to Scotland in the early 19th century.
Most of the information I’ve enclosed came from band records, the Dept. of Indian Affairs, the Dept. of the Interior (scrip records), Hudson’s Bay records, church records, and from the research of Bill Leclair, Marlene Fehr, Alexander Dietz, Charlotte Hazle, Dolores Cobban, Brian Ranville, Sharon Bunney, Rod Ballendine, Gary Dempsey, Gail Morin and Michel Neault.
So enjoy, and if you think we’re related or if there is anything you can add, please don’t hesitate to send an email to the address below.
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- Jean Louis (Jackie) Leclair and Jean David Leclair (29 KB)
This picture of my uncle Jackie and my grandfather was taken in 1987.
- Lydia Brittain and Benjamin Dunbar (19 KB)
This is my chapan (great grandmother) and my uncle Ben. The picture was taken in 1960. She was about 90 years old at the time.
- Isabella Samson 1876-1967 (62 KB)
This picture of my great grandmother was taken in Scotland in 1903 before she came to Canada.
- Anaisse Berthe (Alice) Nault 1909-1973 (25 KB)
This is a picture of my grandmother taken in 1957. She was a beautiful woman in all ways.
- Jean Louis (Jackie) Leclair (32 KB)
Here's a picture of my uncle Jackie Leclair when he played hockey with the 1955-56 Montreal Canadiens.
My dad's brother was part of the greatest hockey team ever.
- John Butchart Robertson Dunbar 1881-1967 (31 KB)
This picture of my great grandfather was taken in Scotland in 1903 before he came to Canada.
- Sarah Maria Novak (25 KB)
This is my daughter Sarah. She's a graphic arts designer, painter and photographer, and I'm really proud of her!
- Francois Nault and Elizabeth McPherson ca. 1850 (11 KB)
These are my great-great-great-grandparents Francois Nault b.1792,
and Elizabeth McPherson b.1817.
The original portrait hangs in the
Algonquin Center of Maniwaki, Quebec.
- George Samson 1841-1913, Jean Thornton 1848-1916 (67 KB)
My great great grandparents taken in Arbirlot, Scotland circa 1900.
- Benjamin Dunbar (45 KB)
This is a newer picture of my uncle Ben.
- Ben, Grandmother Harriet Cook, and Mom, 1939. (38 KB)
This is a picure of my kohkum (Grandmother), with my mother Mary and my uncle Ben.
This picture was taken in Cranberry Portage, Manitoba around 1939.
- Frank Dunbar, ten years old. (86 KB)
This picture was taken in Makinak, Manitoba in 1917.
- Dunbar family 1955. (23 KB)
This is the Dunbar family taken on October 20, 1955. From left to right they are:
Mabel Ann Dunbar, her husband Willard Fetterly, Isabella Samson Dunbar, Sidney Engen, John Butchart Robertson Dunbar, Francis "Frank" Dunbar, Edith Jean Dunbar Engen, John "Jack" Dunbar, Ethel Isabella "Belle" Dunbar Cartney, Marlene Dunbar, Janette Oltrop Dunbar, and James Cartney.
- My grandfather, Frank Dunbar 1907-1989 (40 KB)
This is my grandfather Frank Dunbar.
He spent most of his life in the bush as a trapper, fisherman, and logger.
- Homesteaders (71 KB)
My great grandparents with their children taken in mid 1920's, Makinak, Manitoba. When this picture was taken, my grandfather Frank had already ran away from home to make his living in the north.
- Grandpa and Sarah (55 KB)
Frank Dunbar and Sarah Novak taken in Cranberry Portage, Manitoba in 1978.
- John Leclair circa 1999 (19 KB)
Me (English), Moi (French), Nitha (Cree)
- Dunbar children late 1920's (38 KB)
Jack, Frank, Jean, Belle, and Ann Dunbar on the farm at Makinak, Manitoba.
- Four generations (54 KB)
My great grandparents John Butchart Robertson Dunbar, Isabella Sampson Dunbar, Frank Dunbar, Mary Dunbar Leclair, John Leclair. This picture was taken in Portage la Prairie in 1957.
- Mary Hutchinson (nee Dunbar) (33 KB)
This is a picture of my mom taken at Batoche in 1997.
- Mary Dunbar 1933 (87 KB)
This picture of my mom was taken in front of her father's cabin on Lake Athapapuskow in Cranberry Portage, MB.
- Raymond Armand Richard Leclair 1928-1983 (21 KB)
This picture of my Dad was taken in 1979 in Cambridge Bay, NWT.
Dad worked in the arctic on the DEW line for many years.
- Joseph Henri Leclair and Marie Bertrand circa 1900 (8 KB)
This is a photo of my great grandparents with their children. Sorry, the quality isn't great.
- Karen Andree Leclair, BA (33 KB)
This is a picture of my sister taken when she convocated from the University of Saskatchewan.
- Mr. and Mrs. John Butchart Robertson Dunbar 1941 (42 KB)
This portrait of my great grandparents was taken in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
- Alexander Black Dunbar, Susan Massie circa 1903 (52 KB)
This is a picture of my great great grandparents and their family. This picture was taken in Arbroath Scotland. My great grandfather John Butchart Robertson Dunbar is on the far right in the photo.
- Jean David Leclair and family 1990 (112 KB)
This photo of my grandfather and with his family was taken in Sillery, PQ on his 90th birthday.
Back row: Ronald Leclair, Aunt Helen's daughter Cecile, Michael Leclair, Chuck Stevens, Pierre (partner of Louise), Patrick & son, John, Cindy, unknown, Bill Leclair, unknown, William (Bilou)
Second row: Michael's wife, Aunt Elsie, Kathy Stevens & son, Louise, John's wife, Karen Leclair, Aunt Lilie, Patrick's partner, Marie Lyne, William's partner & son
Front row: Grandpa's sister Eileen (Tootsie) is on the left and his sister-in-law Helene Lafreniere (nee Nault) is on the right. Missing: Jean Louis (Jack) Leclair & family
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John Leclair's Really Big Family