Louis Riel: A Canadian Opposition Leader of the Metis Community

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Early Life
The Red River Resistance
Intervening Years
North-West Rebellion
Trial, Execution, and Legacy
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Louis Riel was a Canadian opposition leader of the Metis community. Riel organized and led two rebellions against the Canadian government during the era of Prime Minister John A. Macdonald (Danckert, 2018). The Red River Resistance was the first he led between 1869 to 1870 (Danckert, 2018). His efforts made Manitoba recognized as a province and joined the Canadian Confederation in 1870 (Danckert, 2018). He can be described as the most controversial politician in Canadian history.

Early Life

Louis was born in 1844 in the Red River settlement, Manitoba. He was the firstborn in a family of eleven siblings. His father was of Franco-Chipewyan descent and a community leader who led groups supporting Guillaume Sayer (Danckert, 2018). His mother hailed from the family of Lagimodiere and Marie-Anne. Riel started schooling at age seven at his local church. At ten years old, he joined St. Boniface Catholic School till he was 13 years old (Danckert, 2018). Louis joined the Montreal study as a priest with the help of Bishop Alexander Tache. However, he never graduated as he dropped to train as a lawyer but he also left school without graduating in 1866 (Danckert, 2018). Both attempts to advance his studies failed, and he opted not to study further.

Riel left Canada for Chicago and Minnesota, where he did odd jobs and wrote poems. In 1868, he returned to Red River as a very ambitious leader (Danckert, 2018). Between 1869 and 1870, he was the head of a provisional government that formulated the Act that established the Manitoba province (Danckert, 2018). This was the beginning of his political career as a leader of the Metis people.

The Red River Resistance

The Red River Resistance was sparked by transferring a section of Rupert’s territory to the Dominion of Canada. The movement’s main goal was to negotiate the terms of joining the confederation. When the federal government ignored the concerns presented, the Metis people lost their patience, and in March 1885, a provincial government was declared (Danckert, 2018). Riel’s leadership was termed to be that of agitation and bitterness. This was marked by the Thomas Scott incident, a surveyor in Kildonan. Riel decided to execute Scott following his arrest and detention at Upper Fort Garry.

This event led to the military force being sent to Manitoba in 1870, and this exercise was called the Red River Expedition (Danckert, 2018). Though it was a punitive measure against the creation of a provincial government, the federal leaders only claimed it was against the murder of Scott. On 12 May 1870, the Manitoba Act was passed, and Manitoba became a recognized province (Danckert, 2018). This marked the success of the Red River Resistance and its end.

Intervening Years

Adam George became the new lieutenant governor and established a civil government. Riel had no amnesty at the time, and the militia threatened to kill him. This forced him to flee to the St. Joseph mission at the Canada-US border. He stayed away until 1971 when Archibald assured him of safety (Jonasson, 1937). In the next election, Riel gave Cartier a chance to win the parliament as he favored amnesty. However, Cartier died shortly after winning, which dashed Riel’s hopes of solving the amnesty question. Riel took over as the area member of parliament, but he ruled from exile due to fear for his life (Braz, 2020).

While in exile, his mental status was altered following a violent outburst, and he was moved to Montreal, where he was cared for by his uncle. He slowly recovered and was released under an admonition to lead a private life. Riel went back to Montana and became a trader and interpreter. He married Marguerite in 1882 and sired three babies (Jonasson, 1937). One child died, and he settled down as a teacher at St. Peters Jesuit Mission.

North-West Rebellion

The community called Louis to lead the course against the Canadian government as they felt it did not protect their land rights and survival. The North-west resistance was an uprising by the Metis people under the leadership of Riel. Louis intended to use his new position to pursue his land in Manitoba. This caused military and religious reactions, especially from the catholic church. Riel has a group of 200 armed men and indigenous warriors (Danckert, 2018). A four-day intensive battle was fought at Batoche in which chiefs were arrested, and some were sentenced to serve jail terms.

Trial, Execution, and Legacy

The fight intensified, and most people were killed and others arrested. Riel was captured, tried, and convicted of treason for organizing the resistance. The trial was held at Regina by a jury of six Anglophone protestants in 1885 (Danckert, 2018). The request for an appeal to the Judicial Committee was rejected. On 16 November 1885, Riel was hanged at the North-West police barracks in Regin, and his body returned home (Danckert, 2018). The remains of Riel were interred at the St. Boniface Cathedral churchyard. His legacy was acknowledged, and the government approved all land grants. Louis’s fears finally came true when speculators bought these lands and earned profits. His death disrupted the politics of Canada as much resistance rose.

Conclusion

Riel can be considered a leader by birth who strived to save his people from the oppression of the federal government. With the knowledge he had gained from law school and by traveling to other countries such as America, he was able to fight for the rights of his people. He led two major rebellions in the land, including the Red River Resistance and the North-West Rebellion. His efforts were successful as Manito became a recognized province. Riel is considered a martyr for his endeavors in protecting his people and church.

References

Braz, A. (2020). Singing Louis Riel: The centennial quest for representative Canadian heroes. Canadian Review of Comparative Literature/Revue Canadienne de Littérature Comparée, 47(1), 107-122. Web.

Danckert, P. (2018). Louis Riel: History, theatre, and a national narrative–an evolving story. University of Toronto Quarterly, 87(4), 39-50. Web.

Jonasson, J. A. (1937). The Red River amnesty question. Pacific Historical Review, 6(1), 58-66. Web.

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