The legacy of Riel is a difficult one for Canada. He embodied the conflicts inherent in the Canadian expereince – French vs English, FN vs Settler, centralized government vs far flung communities. Despite their eventual loss, the Red River Rebellion (1869) helped cause the differences between Canadian and American westward expansion. He’s the first citizen of Manitoba. His execution is still discussed as if it started the Ontario-Quebec divide.
Everyone would be much happier if you just don’t look too closely at the North-West Rebellion (1885). Among other things, Riel got hired to negotiate with the government but chose armed rebellion – mostly due to his decision to start a new religion. Riel personally, and at least his right hand man Dumont, had the explicit (as in direct from the white house) support of the USA following the same pattern as the Fenian raids in 1866 and 1871. More than half of what is normally called the Rebellion was actually a largely unrelated conflict with the Cree caused by the Government using the same FN suppression tactics they now fault America for using.
Far easier to just say that the Red River rebellion was doomed but noble, the North West rebellion was behind the times, and his execution was an affront to Francophones everywhere.
gribbler on
I was out to Batoche when I was in Saskatoon for a visit last year, first time since probably the early 80s. They added some cool things, and it’s a nice spot to be on a lovely prairie day
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The legacy of Riel is a difficult one for Canada. He embodied the conflicts inherent in the Canadian expereince – French vs English, FN vs Settler, centralized government vs far flung communities. Despite their eventual loss, the Red River Rebellion (1869) helped cause the differences between Canadian and American westward expansion. He’s the first citizen of Manitoba. His execution is still discussed as if it started the Ontario-Quebec divide.
Everyone would be much happier if you just don’t look too closely at the North-West Rebellion (1885). Among other things, Riel got hired to negotiate with the government but chose armed rebellion – mostly due to his decision to start a new religion. Riel personally, and at least his right hand man Dumont, had the explicit (as in direct from the white house) support of the USA following the same pattern as the Fenian raids in 1866 and 1871. More than half of what is normally called the Rebellion was actually a largely unrelated conflict with the Cree caused by the Government using the same FN suppression tactics they now fault America for using.
Far easier to just say that the Red River rebellion was doomed but noble, the North West rebellion was behind the times, and his execution was an affront to Francophones everywhere.
I was out to Batoche when I was in Saskatoon for a visit last year, first time since probably the early 80s. They added some cool things, and it’s a nice spot to be on a lovely prairie day