Technolandy

Day 51 (of 2024/25) thinking about #LouisRiel 

The learning of Louis Riel has long been complicated. I consider myself fortunate as our small school socials teacher shred events and let us decide if Riel was a taitor or hero… many others were directly informed that Riel was a bad person who somehow help lead to the formation of our prairie provinces… the government at the time – and since – have done quite well portraying him as an insane politician. 

Now, November 16 is a day that serves as a formal day to acknowledge the historic events of the Métis people and to commemorate the life and many accomplishments of Louis Riel. Despite its devastating history, November 16th is also celebrated for the liveliness and beauty of Métis culture and traditions. Big thanks to indigenous.ubc.ca 

Louis Riel, a Métis leader and the founder of Manitoba, was executed on November 16, 1885  for his role in leading the North-West Resistance of 1885. Continued resistances of the Red River Resistance (1869-1870) fought for the Métis rights in the face of Canadian colonist expansion. The prosecution and execution of Louis Riel labelled the Métis people as traitors to Canada’s growing nation and many Métis people felt it necessary to hide their culture and identity to avoid discrimination. 

Riel’s historical reputation has long been polarized between portrayals as a dangerous religious fanatic and rebel opposed to the Canadian nation, and, by contrast, as a charismatic leader intent on defending his Métis people from the unfair encroachments by the federal government eager to give Ontario settlers priority access to land. Riel has received among the most formal organizational and academic scrutiny of any figure in Canadian history.  Historians have debated the Riel case so often and so passionately that he is the most written-about person in Canadian history.

 In 1992, the House of Commons passed a resolution recognizing “the unique and historic role of Louis Riel as a founder of Manitoba and his contribution in the development of Confederation”. The CBC’s Greatest Canadian project ranked Riel as the 11th “Greatest Canadian” on the basis of a public vote. On February 19, 2024, Riel was formally recognized as Manitoba’s first premier by virtue of The Louis Riel Act.

Canada has a lot of history that we wish were different/better than it was. It is good that via archives like Wikipedia and ebooks, the historical bias can be reviewed and reconsidered and the Métis and (as our class termed the most ardent supporters in our Socials class) Riel-ologists can have us know an architect of our confederation better. 

So take November 16th (or the school day before the 16th)  to celebrate Métis culture and the continuing progress Métis people are making in fulfilling Riel’s vision of a united, inclusive Métis Nation taking its rightful place within Confederation. More information available here: www.metisnation.org

And one of our Indigenous Metis workers led a presentation today… always nice when it’s not me leading an assembly… here are some more takeaways from today: 

Great story about the rise of Riel and how he stopped surveys and was able to raise awareness that the people in the prairies have rights… but no clarity as to what the rights ought to be… when an armed resistance occurred, the Canadian government likewise raised it’s stance. Riel had 14 rights that were dismissed.

Riel setting up a Provisional Government further enflamed Ottawa… 

A great overview that covered what I have already noted… but then we did an exploration into the Metis Sash and a Ribbon Skirt. And how the view of Louis Riel has shifted from that as a traitor to that as a Canadian Hero… showing that bias can change and evolve over time!