End of Rebellion Although Riel fled to the USA before the Expedition reached Upper Fort Garry, the arrival of the Expedition marked the end of the Rebellion. With Riel gone, the Canadian government “banished” him from Canada for five years in exchange for granting him amnesty for the execution of Thomas Scott. Riel returned to Red River in the summer of 1871, but was forced to leave again when the Ontario government put a $5000 bounty on him.

Dispersion of the Métis Due to all of the delays and problems with their land grants, as well as the sense that they were unwelcome among the Protestant immigrants, many Métis people decided to leave Manitoba. More than 4000 left Manitoba between 1870 and 1885, at first slowly, but then in increasing numbers after 1876.

The Métis moved mostly to Saskatchewan, Alberta and into the United States

Challenges in the Northwest Things did not get better for the Métis after they left Manitoba. Steamboats were being used to transport goods, which decreased jobs for the Métis. The decline of bison herds caused hunger and hard times. In 1870, land surveyors arrived in the Batoche region to claim land for the government, ignoring the Métis who had settled there.

In 1884, a group of Métis men travelled to Montana to seek out Louis Riel. They asked Riel to lead them again in their struggle for fair treatment by the federal government in Ottawa. Riel agreed to help.

The North-West Resistance Political leaders in Ottawa were nervous about Riel’s return. Although Riel stated firmly that he wanted a peaceful resolution to the problems, the government was not sure and monitored Riel’s movements carefully. A petition outlining the Métis’ grievances and demands was sent to Ottawa. The petition was acknowledged but the government was in no hurry to act on it.

Compare the Métis Bill of Rights (1885) with the list of rights prepared in 1870 in Red River. What changes and continuities do you see?

On March 18, 1885, a group of Métis occupied a church at Batoche and cut the telegraph lines between Regina (the then capital of the North- West Territories) and Prince Albert. They passed a “Revolutionary Bill of Rights” and took English prisoners around the area of Duck Lake, where a skirmish broke out between the NWMP and Métis/Aboriginal group. Both sides suffered losses.

More violence erupted in early April at Frog Lake when a group of Cree, under Chief Big Bear’s command, took several settlers and Métis prisoner. Nine settlers die. By now, the Canadian army was advancing on the region, more quickly because of the new Canadian Pacific Railway.

Riel’s Lack of Support Unlike the Red River Resistance, Riel did not have the full support of settlers in Saskatchewan. This time, Riel lacked support from both the English settlers of the area and many of the non- Métis natives - and, due to his belief that God had sent him back to Canada as a prophet – the Catholic Church no longer supported him either.

Battle of Batoche

The Battle of Batoche The battle at Batoche would be the last in the Northwest Rebellion. It lasted almost four days as the army’s troops sought to take over the provisional government and the Métis fought to defend it. The Métis could not hold out long against the army’s firepower and quickly ran out of ammunition. Louis Riel surrendered on May 15, 1885.

Why might people prefer the term “North-West Resistance” over “Riel Rebellion”? What are the implications of each name choice?

Riel’s Fate English Canadians, remembering the Thomas Scott affair, wanted the federal government to take tough measures against Riel. By contrast, French Canadians pressed the government to show leniency toward the French Canadian Riel. In the end, the federal government was determined to dispose of the man who had led two uprisings in the young country’s history.

High Treason Riel was formally charged with high treason. “With so many headlines in English Canada, screaming for revenge, there was no way the government could consider for Riel anything but the most serious crime on the books” (Maggie Siggins, Riel’s biographer) The mandatory sentence was death by hanging.

Riel on Trial Riel’s lawyers wanted him to plead insanity, but he refused. He saw his trial as an opportunity to explain the position of the Métis; he also felt that, if he used the insanity plea, his justification for the rebellion would be dismissed. His six-man jury was chosen. All were English and only one knew any French.

Riel was hanged in Regina on November 16, 1885. After a trial lasting five days, the jury was sent away to deliberate. One hour later, they emerged and declared Riel guilty. There were two quick appeals, both of which were turned down. The sentence was further delayed when public outcry in Québec demanded Riel’s mental state be examined. Riel was hanged in Regina on November 16, 1885. The jury recommended mercy for Riel Riel still refused to declare insanity

Riel’s body was transported to Winnipeg, where hundreds of mourners turned out for his funeral and mass at his home church in St Boniface.

Things to Think About… Why did Macdonald decide to authorize Riel’s execution? What other possible course of action could he have taken? Why did he not do so? Why did Riel’s execution pose a difficult political dilemma for Macdonald’s government?

Why did some of his senior Quebec ministers oppose his decision to allow Riel to be hanged? Why was the decision to execute Riel so potentially divisive for Canadians? Why did it present a serious political problem for Macdonald’s government?

In your opinion, with your knowledge of the results of the Macdonald’s decision, was it the right one to make? From the perspective of Macdonald’s own time, why was the decision to hang Riel probably the only one he could have made?

Louis Riel: Traitor or Hero?