Louis Riel

Louis Riel.

Louis Riel has been called many things: poet, priest, scoundrel, madman, criminal. Most of all, he was a leader.

When the government surveyors arrived in the Red River Settlement and began outlining homestead lands across lands already settled by the Metis, the people turned to Riel for guidance.

Riel demanded that the Government of Canada recognize the rights of the Metis people, and set up his own government.

When a white settler was killed, the army was sent to the Settlement. By the time they arrived, Riel and his ministers had disappeared.

Louis Riel, leader of the Metis people.

Riel returned to Canada in 1885, summoned by the Metis people. More settlers were moving westward; the Metis felt that once again their lands and their way of life were threatened. This time the Metis armed themselves and stood firm. Battles between the Metis and their supporters and the military and NWMP killed people on both sides. The military eventually stopped the rebellion. Louis Riel was captured, tried and hanged.