Louis Riel

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: http://www.canadiana.org/citm/themes/aboriginals/aboriginals5_e.html • Read from Louis Riel, by Rosemary Neering • Used clip from DVD—”St. Laurent”

2. WHO WAS LOUIS RIEL?

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

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

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

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.

13. Louis Riel –Provisional Government

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:1870 - 1885 • 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.