Louis Riel Position Paper: Hero
Paragraph 1: Must briefly explain the issue and state your position on it (do not present any reasons).
“ We must cherish our inheritance. We must preserve our nationality for the youth of our future. The story should be written down to pass on." (Louis Riel, 1884, IZ Quotes).” Louis Riel, an accomplished leader of the Metis, the architect of Manitoba and a resolutely, religious man who spoke for the rights of the Metis and Manitobans, is one of the most controversial figures in Canadian History. A beloved icon of the Metis, Manitobans and French Canadians’ wills, he spoke for the inherited rights of all people, that would not be trampled by any- including the Dominion of Canada. For others, he is
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However, in reality, his actions did cause a rebellious and traitorous portrayal of himself in the eyes of the English Canadians, Orangemen and the Federal Government. One such act was the execution of Thomas Scott- an aggressive man who was an ally of Dr. John Schulz and threatened Riel’s life. This execution demonized Louis Riel and was a severe miscalculation that eventually led to Riel’s exile- a mistake due to the result of the execution being spread to Ontario, where it angered many (including John A. Macdonald who sent troops to Manitoba forcing Riel to flee to the USA). Another reason that depicts Louis Riel in a negative light is the insanity plea given by Riel’s lawyers at the Regina trial in 1885. During Riel’s 15 years of exile in Dakota (USA), he formed a strong, almost psychotic belief that he was the prophet of the New World and believed the Metis were his chosen people. Louis Riel was admitted into a lunatic asylum in 1873. The judge and jury of the 1875 trial described him to be sane and punished according to that description. Also, Louis Riel was tried for high treason- the federal government wanted him hanged, the Ontarians wanted Riel punished and the Quebecois wanted mercy for his noble cause of defending his people. The charge of high treason is deserving, in the opinion of many, because Riel did lead two rebellions (Red River and NorthWest) which led to increased tensions and death. Though absurdly, Riel never fired a bullet in the rebellions- he only prayed and led- causing many to call him a coward and
The government failed to address the concerns of the Metis people. Louis Riel had Thomas Scott executed, but they for the right reasons, he was a bigot, and a violent man. Riel was tried for treason but he was hanged for the murder of Scott. Riel made great points when testifying but the court refused to listen. Louis Riel was and still is a national hero. He may have been a criminal in the eyes of the law, but his actions have contributed to building Canada as a nation. He still has a lasting impact on Canadians today. He spent most of his life fighting injustice and he leaves behind a great demonstration of a human rights movement and an exceptional political
To begin, Louis Riel wanted to negotiate with the Canadian government to create the province “Manitoba”. Mr. Riel wanted a province because a province had much greater control over its own affairs than did a territory. On July 15, 1870, the Manitoba Act went into effect. Through this act, Canada’s fifth province, Manitoba, came into being. Many of the points from the Metis Bill of Rights became part of the Manitoba Act. Mr. Riel had been working towards creating a province, it has been
He reblled against the government as they were trying to take his peoples rightful land. By the metis, he is a hero. No matter the consequences he stood up for their rights which led him to his death leaving children behind. By others he is labelled as a traitor or a killer after an ordeal with a man named Thomas Scott. Scott was an unruly, racist, and mean prisoner who had several confrontations with Louis Riel. Unsurprisingly, Louis Riel notified officials which ultimatley led to Scott's execution, to this day people still blame Riel for Scotts death. Despite the contriversy Louis Riel will remain as a Metis Hero and founder of the province Manitoba even with the lable "traitor" on his grave. This man has sacrificed his Family, his job, his sanity, and even his own life to defend what he believed was right and for that, many people will be forever grateful. Unfortunatly Louis Riel's legacy will not impact the future as Metis still have few rights but he will always be a referrence andwill continue to do his job which is spreading awareness on this famous political
Louis Riel was one of the most controversial figures in Canadian history, and even to this day – more than a century after his execution – he continues to be remembered. Many believed him to be a villain; others saw him as a hero. So who was he really? Born in St. Boniface at the Red River Settlement of Canada (present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba) on October 22, 1844, Louis Riel hoped one day to follow his father’s footsteps and become a great Métis leader just like him. Eventually, Riel was seen as a hero to the French-speaking Métis. In the Canadian West, however, most people regarded him as a villain due to his execution in 1885. Nevertheless, Louis Riel was not really a villain by heart; only a flawed man who made many mistakes in his life.
On October 23, 1844, in Red River Manitoba, Louis Riel Sr and Julie Lagimodiere, devout Christians, brought a young Métis boy into the world. Little did they know, Louis Riel Jr. would grow up to become known to many as “the founder of Manitoba.” His life was filled with excitement, both political and personal. The question is, were his actions against the government acts of honor and truth, or deception and lies?
The second part of the comic strip biography “Louis Riel” by Chester Brown, starts off in early September 1870 in St. Joseph, Dakota territory. Louis Riel is reading a note which talks about how the Canadian soldiers have wreaked havoc on the Red River Colony. It talks about how some Métis men had been murdered and quite a few were beaten. Women had also been raped in the settlement too. “The Canadian soldiers have brought a reign of fear to the Red River settlement.” This is an excerpt from the note Louis Riel was reading. Also, Schultz returned and was basically running things. The comic-strip biography then fasts forwards to the summer of 1871. Louis Riel is reading another note now. This one is talking about how the land the people of the settlement had been promised by the Canadian government was being given to people from Eastern Canada. The exceptional rich farmland was being given to the British farmers and the requests for land were being delayed. After this Riel goes to his mother’s house in the settlement and finds that many of the soldiers have went home. His mother though, warns him to lay low. The story then shifts and fast forwards to Ottawa in the December of 1871, about five to seven months later. Father Ritchot has arranged a meeting with John Alexander Macdonald to discuss amnesty for Louis Riel’s crimes. Father Ritchot immediately confronts John Alexander Macdonald, demanding to know why the amnesty was not granted. John Alexander Macdonald responds by
A man who stood up for the Métis, a man who formed a provisional government, Louis Riel. I, like most Canadians believe that Louis Riel was a hero, someone whom is admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities ("Hero." The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2015.) opposed to being a traitor for numerous reasons. Riel’s first recognized act of leadership was when he stopped McDougall’s surveying (Kilgour, David. "Louis Riel: Patriot Without a Country." Uneasy Patriots: Western Canadians in Confederation. Edmonton, Alta.: Lone Pine, 1988. N. pag. Print.) in October 1869. Riel, 25, not only defended the Métis’ rights but he made sure the Métis would keep their traditional ways so he established a provisional government and presented
One of the best known and important Canadian figures Louis Riel is a great example of how life is destined with controversies and battles of inauguration. Ongoing today many debates of whether his actions to obtain his goals were morally just. Louis fought for what he believed in and what he thought was right, he spoke for the Metis people. He put his heart and dedication into preserving their culture, rights, treaties, and land claims. This essay is going to encapsulate a few events of Louis Riel's life, accomplishments, and failures, while also exploring the controversial question of whether Louis was a villain or a hero, but who says he couldn't be both.
Although the article provide some of the insights about the origin of metis nation Darryl and Adam fall victims of thin information rely about how the French speaking people wanted to assimilate the metis people ("Why I Decided To Reject A Settler Colonial View Of The Métis Nation | Rabble.Ca"). The Canadian government need to understand that as they treat other indigenous communities they should also treat the metis people the same since all the communities in the world are at once a mixed race of different ancestries or
Louis Riel, a well educated lawyer and a persuasive orator, was granted the role of leader within the Metis at the age of 24. As the leader of his people, he immediately responded to the actions of the land surveyors, speculators, and the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)- who had sold Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territories with no consideration of the interests or opinions of the people settled there. These actions forced Riel to form a coalition and seize Fort Garry, beginning the Red River Rebellion. During this rebellion, Riel accomplished two feats, with the support of the Metis and provisional government, that speak of his civilized and educated image. These two feats were the Metis List of Rights and the Proposal for the Creation
"We must cherish our inheritance. We must preserve our nationality for the youth of our future. The story should be written down to pass on." (Louis Riel, 1884). Louis Riel, a man of great nature and abiding love for his western Métis heritage, is proven to be one of the most revolutionary men looked upon in the chronicles of the Dominion of Canada. In spite of this, he remains as one of the most controversial and cryptic figures throughout the course of Canadian history. A period of revolution lasting from the 1870’s to the late 1880’s was condemned with constant revolts justified as an intervening year for those involved. Louis Riel is regarded as a hero by preserving the civil liberties and identities of the Métis and leading two
One of the most contentious issues in Canada’s history is that of the Metis. Some people feel this unique group of people does not deserve any sort of recognition, whereas others believe their unique history and culture is something to be recognized and cherished. The history of the Metis people is filled with struggle; not only struggles against other powers, but also a struggle for self-identification. Despite strong opposition, the Metis people of Canada have matured as a political force and have taken great strides towards being recognized as a unique people.
Louis Riel didn’t want to be held accountable for his very own actions so he fled to the U.S. Does that sound like a hero to you? Does Louis Riel sound like someone you would want to lead your country? If Louis Riel wasn’t guilty why would he have felt so compelled to flee Canada and conspire starting a war with the
Yesterday at 8:00 am on November 16th in Regina, Saskatchewan, Louis Riel the leader of the North-West Rebellion and the Metis was hung. This was as a result, of him been charged with high treason and sentenced to death by hanging.
Louis Riel, a controversial man who ponders around Canada’s mind & judgement today, some may call him a traitor but for the most in fact he was a hero. He was one of the founding fathers that embraced and shaped our country to what we are today and not only that, he was a fighter that stood up for what he believed in and what he knew was best for the people because simply he cared about them. Although, at times his reasons were faulty, his selfless acts were far more recognizable than his prevailing mistakes that led him to execution in 1885 as he was judged “guilty” of alleged accusations of an unfair court of whom did not favour him.