Riel's life: a Métis
Born in the Red River settlement on October 22, 1844 Louis Riel
was the son of a Métis leader and a French Canadian mother.
He was the leader of the Métis People in 1869 during the Red
River Resistance. In 1871 Riel took possession of Lower Fort Garry
in Manitoba. He fought for the rights of the Metis people and going
so far as to set up a provisional government.
He was forced to be exiled to the United States for 5 years.
Gabriel Dumont and 3 other men went to find and ask Riel to come
back to Canada and help the Métis Peoples plead their case to the
government.
He returned to Canada to take part in the Northwest Rebellion,
and was arrested, Tried and hung for treason against Canada in
1885. Riel is buried in St.Boniface, Manitoba at the St. Boniface
Cathedral.
In September 2007 Manitoba established "Louis Riel Day" on the
3rd Monday of February.