The Legacy of Louis Riel

Traitor or Hero? Riel was maligned as a traitor for more than one hundred years. Today he is considered by many people to be a folk hero. Whether seen as a Father of Confederation or a traitor, he remains one of the most complex, controversial, and tragic figures in the history of Canada.

Riel Reconsidered The formerly widespread perception of Louis Riel as an insane traitor, especially outside of the Métis and French-Canadian community, weakened considerably in the late twentieth century. Riel has come to be regarded as a heroic freedom fighter who stood up for his people in the face of a racist government, and those who question his sanity still view him as an essentially honorable figure.

Riel Reconsidered Across Canada there emerged a new interpretation of his rebellions: The Métis had major unresolved grievances The government had been unresponsive Riel resorted to violence only as a last resort He was given a questionable trial, then executed by a vengeful government

Impact on the Métis Riel’s execution made him the martyr of the Métis people. He remains the most famous Métis leader and an important figurehead for Métis people in Western Canada. However, Riel’s decision to execute Thomas Scott drastically altered the history of his people. Previously, there had been good relations between Canada and the Métis. Following the Red River Rebellion, the Métis became increasingly marginalized in Manitoba – along with French language and the Catholic school system

Impact on Canada Riel is often the only Métis figure most non-Métis are aware of. He has been recognized as the founder of Manitoba. He is increasingly praised for his multiculturalism and multilingualism — both of which were contained in the original vision of Manitoba. Over a dozen different bills regarding Louis Riel have been presented to the Canadian Parliament since the mid-1990s – seeking to revoke his conviction, or to establish a national holiday in his honour. In Manitoba, Saskatchewan and even in Ontario, Riel is commemorated in the names of streets, schools, and other buildings

Impact on Quebec Riel's execution and John A. Macdonald's refusal to commute his sentence caused lasting upset in Quebec Macdonald’s famous quote, “He shall hang though every dog in Quebec bark in his favour” would fan the flames of French nationalism for years to come. The Parti National (which promoted Quebec sovereignty) won a majority in the 1886 Quebec election by exploiting outrage over Riel’s execution

Impact on Quebec Riel’s death also caused a major shift in Québec federal voting trends, moving the province’s traditional support of the Conservative Party to the Liberal Party led by Wilfrid Laurier. This set the stage for the domination of Canadian federal politics by the Liberal party in the 20th century. In the 1960s, the Quebec terrorist group, the FLQ, adopted the name "Louis Riel" for one of its terrorist cells. In 1994, a Bloc Québécois MP introduced a bill to revoke Riel’s conviction. The unsuccessful bill was widely seen in English Canada as an attempt to raise support for Quebec nationalism prior to the 1995 referendum on Quebec sovereignty.

Riel’s Sanity and Religious Beliefs Several scholars have noted that it was usually Riel’s friends, rather than his enemies, who called him insane. Many thought he was simply extreme, radical, or excitable. Some have speculated that he may have suffered from the psychological condition megalomania. It has also been noted that many religious leaders in the past have exhibited behavior that looks exactly like insanity.

Rethinking Riel – A Timeline: March 11, 1992: A motion honouring Riel as founder of Manitoba is passed unanimously. However, the motion does not include a pardon. March-May, 1998: Two Liberal MPs launch a private-member's bill to overturn Riel's conviction. While it gains the support of all federal parties and the blessing of the Riel family, Métis leaders said it did nothing to advance Riel's causes. Oct., 23, 2002: A web poll after a televised CBC mock trial finds Riel not guilty of high treason. Out of 9,657 votes cast, a whopping 87% were for a not-guilty verdict. 2004: Former Prime Minister Paul Martin vows that his government will rethink Mr. Riel's role in Canadian history

Rethinking Riel – A Timeline: Feb. 18, 2008: Manitoba celebrates the first Louis Riel Day, which is held on the third Monday of every February. Feb. 19, 2010: The Prime Minister's Office joins the opposition in condemning a Conservative MP who called Riel a "villain" in a brochure. Nov. 16, 2010: New Democrats Pat Martin and Thomas Mulcair call on the government to support their private-member's bill to reverse Riel's treason conviction, as well as recognize him as the founder of Manitoba and a hero to the Métis people. Bill C-248 does not pass (private member’s bill do not usually become law). Several similar bills have been tabled since 1992, but without success.