Northwest Resistance Louis Riel: Saint Or Villain?

On the 16th of November, 1885, Métis leader and central figure to the Northwest Resistance Louis Riel was hung for treason and inciting unrest against the government of Canada. Riel was often associated with his determination and readiness to fight for the rights and just treatment of his people. Although that much is true, much is in question about his methods and state of mind during the events of the Red River and Northwest rebellions from 1869-1870 and 1885. The issues and controversies surrounding his morality is still in debate in Manitoba to this day with researchers and writers referring to him as either a saint or a villain. What is seldom mentioned to high schoolers however was this controversial side to Riel’s story, what were the

Historically, the population consisted of a French speaking people of mixed french and native ethnicity who have developed their own cultures and traditions. Tensions arose when predominantly english settlers arrived from the East, favouring Canadian expansions while the Metis feared discrimination. When Canada was granted the land in 1869 after purchase, the Federal Government appointed the outspoken anti-french, William McDougall as the Lieutenant Governor of the newly acquired territories. The arrival of a survey party on 20 August 1869, in behalf of McDougall drastically increased the stress on the Metis who perceived them as a threat to their ways of life, specifically a threat to their homes, lands, religion and language. The Metis wanted none of it and so, only 2 years after confederation the Federal government would face its first crisis which would shape the rest of British North

Denouncing McDougall’s authority on August of 1869 and preventing his entrance into Rupert’s Land, Riel lead a group of Metis to take control of Fort Garry before declaring the Provisional Government in December. Riel was known for his temper and failed to recognize his own defects. A good look into his thinking can be reflected from his own poetry. Upon seizing Fort Garry from the Hudson’s Bay Company and the formation of the Provisional Government, the residents of the Red River settlements disagreed over how to negotiate with Canada. Some residents expressing displeasure were angily denied by Riel, Because of Riel’s total disregard for opposition and criticism, the Danger from within his community became a real problem as members started to take him less seriously and even worse, lead to irrational blunders. For the interference and defiance of the Provisional Government, Thomas Scott was sentenced to death on 4 March 1870. Guilty of insulting Riel, defying authority and fighting with his guards, Scott was executed by firing squad despite the fact that the crimes were not considered a capital offence. Riel’s justification was that he found it necessary in order to demonstrate to the Canadians and his people that he must be taken seriously, but instead,