Leah LaPlante is a Metis woman who was born and raised in the beautiful Turtle Mountain area of Southern Manitoba. She started getting interested in the politics of the Manitoba Metis Federation in the 1980’s and became the Local Chairperson. She has spent many years researching and studying Metis history.
In 1997 she was elected as Vice-President of the Southwest Region of the MMF and moved to Brandon. She is presently in her fifth term and is still committed to the Metis people she represents. She has held many Provincial Portfolios over the years but has been the Minister of Education for the MMF and the Chair of the Louis Riel Institute since 2003. She sits on other Boards and committees related to the MMF as well as many in the larger community as she believes in being involved in making positive change as well as using every opportunity to learn something new and to always have a Metis voice at the table.
Leah worked with the Royal Museum of Scotland and Metis exhibition and with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on a documentary on the Metis.
In June, 2012 she was honored at the Ka Ni Kanichihk Keeping the Fires Burning gala for her tireless work to promote, preserve and protect Metis culture.
