Louis Riel; Hero or Traitor

Biography

• Born: October 22, 1844 in the Red River Settlement.
• Died: November 16, 1885, at the age of 41.

Traitor?

1858- At age 14, Riel was sen to Lowe to be educated for priesthood. He withdraws from college to work as low clerk to support family.

July 19- Louis Riel came back to the Red River settlement, and speaks at a meeting of Metis residents about rights in the event that Canada annexes Hudson's bay company.

1869- The Metis revolted against the transfer of their territories from the Hudson's Bay Company to the Dominion of Canada.

Nov 6- Riel asks English speaking residents to elect 12 representatives for the convention with Metis representatives.

Dec 1- Riel presents his "List of rights" to the convention.

Dec 27- Provisional government is formed.

• The Provisional government (which was lead by Riel) killed one Prisoner of the Canadian government, Thomas Scott. This was originally why Canadian government wanted to hang Louis Riel.
• People with a British background wanted Riel to be dealt with harshly (for executing Thomas Scott).
• When MacDonald allowed the death sentence to be carried out, the French got infuriated, and support for the conservative party in Quebec plummeted.

Our Opinion...

Red River Rebellion

Red River Rebellion, 1869-1870, an uprising against the Canadian government by the Metis in the Red River Valley (Manitoba). It all began in 1869 after the Hudson's Bay Company sold its territorial rights of Rupert's land to Canada.

• We think Louis Riel was a hero.
• We think he was wrongly accused.
• Thomas Scott was a prisoner for his unruly actions towards the Metis people.
• Even before Thomas Scott was killed, Louis Riel was treated poorly by the Canadian government.

• The Metis was afraid that they would lose control of their homeland.
• The Metis traditional life would be destroyed.
• Riel executed Thomas Scott.
• Riel was forced into exiled in the United States.
• May 12, Manitoba was created by the Manitoba act.
• Many Metis grievances remained unsolved.

North-West Rebellion-1885

SUMMARY

• Many Metis moved further west of what is now Saskatchewan.
• By 1880s Europeans and other settlers were moving in.
• They were unhappy with the CPR monopoly and tariff on manufactured goods.
• Louis Riel was called back from exile to lead.
• Riel helped then petition Ottawa in regards to various grievances they had.

DOWNSIDE

• Louis Riel's mental state.
• North west mounted police had become a well established presence.
• The Canadian Pacific Railway was almost complete.
• Small military forces.

Riel surrendered and was soon arrested, and hanged for high treason.

Hero?

• People considered him a hero because he struggled to defend religious and traditional life of the Metis.
• Riel and other people in the settlement, formed a "provisional government" to negotiate with the Canadian government about what they thought was their land, because of this people of the settlement (Metis) considered him a hero for defending the land (their actions, known as the Red River rebellion).

"We must cherish our inheritance. We must preserve our nationality for the youth of our future. The story should be written down to pass on." ~Louis Riel.

Louis Riel; Hero or Traitor?

By: Karlyn and Clara

"Why was Louis Riel regarded as a hero by some and a traitor by others?"