[4] By the early 19th century, the interlake region of Manitoba was inhabited by Ojibwa Saulteaux,[5] but it is unclear if any of the groups lived in the immediate vicinity of St. Laurent when it was founded.

[7] Pembina, located in Rupert's Land, had been recently ceded by Great Britain to the United States via the Treaty of 1818,[8] prompting the departure of the Métis there.

More settlers arrived in 1826 as a result of flooding of the Red River of the North,[9] with further growth driven by Métis in search of land and traders seeking to take advantage of trade routes to the northwest.

[10] The economy centred around fishing and the fur trade, with settlers serving as intermediaries with Cree and Assiniboine people.

[14] The land is primarily glacial till with limited potential for agriculture, but it is suitable for some farming and livestock raising.