Riel, Louis. ( 1844 – 85 ). Riel is one of the most controversial of Canadian historical figures. He has been termed a traitor, a heretic, the founder of a province, the hero of a people, a false god. The myth and man have blended together so as to make it impossible to reach any conclusions that all would accept.
Born in the Metis settlement of St Boniface, he went to Montreal to study for the priesthood. He returned to St Boniface in the later 1860s and came to prominence during the resistance to Canadian expansion in 1869 – 70 . His decision to execute a troublesome Canadian, Thomas Scott , forced Riel into exile when the transfer of the Red River territory was completed.
Well before the age of 30, he had become a leader of the Metis and an object of hatred for many Canadians. The subsequent years were troubled ones. He was elected to Parliament but was unable to take his seat because of charges related to Scott. He suffered a mental breakdown in the mid-70s and spent time in a Quebec asylum. He also began to exhibit extreme religious ideas that pictured a new Catholic church arising in North America. The later 1870s and early 1880s were spent in exile in the United States.
In the meantime the situation of the Metis was deteriorating. An influx of Canadian settlers, the failure of the buffalo, and bad weather all hurt the economy of Metis settlements. Grievances against the federal government remained unresolved. By 1884 the situation had reached a crisis point and a delegation visited Riel, asking him to return and press their case with Ottawa. Riel's religious extremism and mental state worked against him. By the spring of 1885 his exasperation with the federal government and his sense of religious messianism led him to take drastic steps.
In the meantime the situation of the Metis was deteriorating. An influx of Canadian settlers, the failure of the buffalo, and bad weather all hurt the economy of Metis settlements. Grievances against the federal government remained unresolved. By 1884 the situation had reached a crisis point and a delegation visited Riel, asking him to return and press their case with Ottawa. Riel's religious extremism and mental state worked against him. By the spring of 1885 his exasperation with the federal government and his sense of religious messianism led him to take drastic steps.
In March he declared a provisional government, as had been done in 1869 – 70 . This time there was no power vacuum, however, and the Metis soon clashed with a local Mounted Police detachment, leaving 18 dead. As violence flared in nearby Native tribes the Canadian government moved swiftly, sending a military force westward. By 15 May Riel was under arrest, charged with treason. His lawyer attempted a plea of insanity but Riel rejected this approach. He was convicted and after a series of appeals was hanged at Regina on 16 November 1885 .
While interpretations vary, Riel's importance in Canadian history is undisputed. His actions affected key fault-lines of our society: French–English; east–west; European– Aboriginal. In a history emphasizing consensus and compromise he symbolized another road.
Doug Owram
See also Red River Resistance; North-West Rebellion
.
How to cite this entry:
Doug Owram "Riel, Louis" The Oxford Companion to Canadian History. Ed. Gerald Hallowell. Oxford University Press, 2004. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. 16 November 2011
While interpretations vary, Riel's importance in Canadian history is undisputed. His actions affected key fault-lines of our society: French–English; east–west; European– Aboriginal. In a history emphasizing consensus and compromise he symbolized another road.
Doug Owram
See also Red River Resistance; North-West Rebellion
.
How to cite this entry:
Doug Owram "Riel, Louis" The Oxford Companion to Canadian History. Ed. Gerald Hallowell. Oxford University Press, 2004. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. 16 November 2011
