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CA-K385Indigenous peoples & reconciliation

Father Albert Lacombe, missionary in the West

Father Albert Lacombe, photographed before 1916.
Father Albert Lacombe, photographed before 1916. Albert Lacombe · Unknown author · Photo source · Photo licence: Public domain. Resized for display; item previews may be cropped. The image remains under the licence shown.
Factual accuracy review: No recorded challenge

No recorded challenge is not proof of accuracy. A challenge under review is not a finding that the item is false.

From 1852, Oblate priest Albert Lacombe spent over 60 years seeking to convert Indigenous Peoples in western Canada to Christianity, founding missions such as St. Albert with Métis and Cree help and acting as a go-between during Treaty 8 talks. He was the first principal of the High River Industrial School in 1884–1885 and advocated separating children from their families and suppressing Indigenous languages.

Scope & context

Lacombe’s role as recognized in the 2024 reviewed designation, not the residential school system as a whole (see CA-K029).

Sources behind this record

1
Albert Lacombe National Historic Person ↗

Parks Canada

Reasons for designation (reviewed)