Gabriel Dumont

Gabriel Dumont - hunter, ferry operator, guide, rebel leader.

Gabriel Dumont was a leader, through and through. Born at Red River in 1837, he learned 6 languages, could hunt with bow and rifle and was an expert horseman and canoeist. As a young teen, he helped defend a Metis encampment against a Sioux war party. The experience taught him many lessons - during the North–West Rebellion Dumont proved himself as a great guerilla fighter and leader.

Dumont, with his father, established a treaty between the Metis and the Sioux, and later with the Blackfoot, to keep all three groups at peace. His leadership and hunting skills lead to his election as the chief of the Metis hunters on their annual buffalo hunt. He lead the hunters from 1863 until the last hunt in 1881.

It was in concern for the future of the Metis people that Dumont began petitioning the government for Metis rights. When he was ignored, he was part of the delegation that brought Louis Riel back to Canada. When their concerns were still dismissed, Dumont became the leader of the 300-strong Metis army.

Dumont operated a ferry on the North Saskatchewan River before petitioning the government for Metis rights.

His guerilla tactics proved effective at Duck Lake and Fish Creek. Riel however, ordered him back to protect Batoche, thinking that Crozier and his men would be attacking from Prince Albert. Although well organized and entrenched, his army was outnumbered 3 to 1 and they lost the battle at Batoche. With Riel captured, Dumont fled to the United States where he eventually joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as a marksman.

Dumont returned to Canada in 1888 and to Batoche in 1893. He died of a heart attack in 1906.