In October 1869, a public meeting was held at St. Norbert Roman Catholic Church (built in 1856) during which the Comite national des Métis was formed, with Louis Riel as secretary. As the first act of the committee, on October 16, the Riel-led Métis erected a barricade across the Pembina Trail at St. Norbert to prevent the newly-appointed lieutenant governor of the Northwest Territories, William McDougall from taking possession of the territory on behalf of the Canadian government.
In October 1869, a public gathering took place at St. Norbert Roman Catholic Church (constructed in 1856) where the Comite national des Métis was initiated with Louis Riel as secretary. Their first action involved setting up barricades on October 16 across the Pembina Trail at St. Norbert to prevent William McDougall, newly-appointed lieutenant governor of the Northwest Territories and representing the Canadian government, from taking control.