1. Louis Riel
This powerpoint presentation created Jan/09, by Wendy Hildebrand, Social Studies CST.
Thanks especially to Greg Pruden, MECY Aboriginal Perspectives Consultant.
Website mainly used:
Read from Louis Riel, by Rosemary Neering
Used clip from DVD—”St. Laurent”

2. WHO WAS LOUIS RIEL?

3. WAS HE… Famous Manitoban? Traitor? Power-hungry prophet?
Father of the Metis Nation?
Saint?
Traitor?
Power-hungry prophet?
Madman?
Sinner?

4. LOUIS RIEL DAY, FEBRUARY 2008

5. LOUIS RIEL DAY, FEBRUARY 2008

6. LOUIS RIEL DAY, FEBRUARY 2008

7. HIS CHILDHOOD
Born 1844, in St. Boniface, the Red River colony, under HBC rule.
Parents—Louis Riel and Julie Lagimodiere, strong Catholic family
Proud to be Metis—ancestors were French, English, Scottish fathers and First Nations mothers
Heritage of buffalo hunting and trading
READ P. 7-9

9. Louis Riel,
age 14, 1858

10. HIS YOUTH Schooling under Bishop Tache until age 13
Trip by ox-cart, ferry and train to Quebec
Studied seven years at the College of Montreal to become a priest
But then worked in a law office
Became a great debater
Learned about politics
Returned to the Red River area
Read p

11. HBC LAND

12. BACK HOME
His father's death in 1864 plunged him into a deep depression.
In 1868 at age 24 he returned to Red River to help his widowed mother and to accomplish something with his life.
The Federal government was trying to annex the North West to prevent Americans from taking it over.
The buffalo had disappeared, and crops were terrible. Settlers were moving in from Ontario.
The Metis and their country born cousins numbered 5,750 and 4,000 respectively vs 1,600 whites and perhaps 700 natives rounded out the population in Red River.
The Hudson Bay political control was collapsing.
They were willing to sell their land to Canada.
Read p.18-21

13. Louis Riel –Provisional Government
Read p.18-21

14. Read p.27-30

15. Riel: Father of the Metis
The land already occupied would not be taken from the Métis, and a large section of land was reserved for them.
There was a provision for religious schools.
French was to be a language of debate.

18. RIEL: Father of Manitoba
Manitoba became a PROVINCE on May 12, 1870.
Not just part of the North-West Territories.
Elected assembly.
Representation in the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa.

20. RIEL: From 1870 to 1885 Escaped to the US.
Riel was elected MP for Manitoba, but couldn’t safely go to Ottawa.
Mostly lived in exile in Montana.
Here he was a teacher and got married.
Louis Riel's mental state deteriorated, affecting his leadership and decisions.

21. On the Prairies:
Buffalo were dying out across the prairies.
Metis and First Nations peoples were enduring hard times – famine and disease caused many deaths.
Canadian government promises of land, farm equipment, and medical supplies often not kept.
The North-West Mounted Police had become a well-established presence in the West by the 1880s.
The Canadian Pacific Railway - which could quickly bring in new military supplies and fresh personnel, if needed - was almost complete.

24. The North-West Rebellion
Riel was asked for help, by the Metis.
The area is now northern Saskatchewan.
Several battles fought.
Battle of Batoche—the Metis were defeated and Louis Riel captured.
He was hung for treason in Regina in 1885.