Louis Riel - "The Righteous Rebel"
(1844 - 1885)
by Ann Blewett
Prologue:
The
enigma of Louis Riel continues to generate widespread controversy one hundred
and seventeen years after his unjust execution in Regina at the age of forty-one.
I personally believe he was innocent of the treason charges levied against
him and that his trial and execution were a travesty of justice performed
for reasons of political expediency. Many view this differently, hence the
disputation. As long as time endures, a universal meeting of minds will never
occur as to a cohesive interpretation of the complex being who was Louis Riel.
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Born a Métis (a term referring to a person of mixed racial ancestry, combining Franco-European and aboriginal origins), Riel was an emotional and strong-willed individual of many mercurial and often contradictory moods. His charismatic personality was one of considerable intensity when taking into account his French Canadian background and devout Roman Catholic upbringing influenced by one-eighth aboriginal heritage with its inherent native spirituality. All of these characteristics were interwoven with great passion and integrity, making for a very potent and compelling mixture. It is no wonder he was misunderstood and underestimated by many of the Anglo-Protestant race with the pre-conceived racist ideas rampant at that particular period of history regarding native and Métis people.
Regina author Maggie Siggins through her excellent book, "Riel, A Life of Revolution", emphasized Riel's private character and how he related to the women in his life - his beloved mother, Julie Lagimodière, his sister, Sara, his first two romantic interests (Marie-Julie and Evelina), and eventually his young Métisse wife, Marguerite. He always displayed genuine devotion to his family and was a loving and tender father to his son and daughter, Jean-Louis and Marie-Angélique. Multi-faceted and diverse, he appears almost a succession of different men all vividly brought to life in the pages of Siggins's book.
Possessing
a finely tuned sense of justice for the underdog, Riel turned his back on
an easy life of wealth and prestige to fight for a cause he believed in with
all his heart and soul; recognition of the rights of the Métis people
as it applied to their land and their unique culture. He was highly intelligent
and very well educated, being well versed in the classics and matters of theology;
and could fluently speak French, English, and Cree. He could read and write
Latin, was a man of letters, and wrote a prolific amount of poetry, illustrating
deep reserves of moral sensitivity. Riel was also blessed with eloquent and
powerful rhetorical skills, enhanced by Gallic charm. Truly an impressive
persona, he was a man well ahead of his time. The Métis couldn't have
had a more gifted or accomplished leader.
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Born October 22nd, 1844 on a crisp and sunny autumn morning in what is now an industrial area of present-day Winnipeg, Louis Riel was the first of a family of eleven children to be born to Julie Lagimodière and Jean-Louis Riel. He was very highly regarded and cherished by his parents. At the age of fourteen, he was chosen by Bishop Alexandre-Antonin Taché to be educated at the seminary of the Sulpician Fathers in Montreal with the hope that he would enter ecclesiastical orders. However, upon leaving the college, Riel worked in a law office before returning to the West in 1868 with absolutely no idea that he would become an advocate on behalf of the Métis of the Red River settlement and the future founder of a province.
The earthly sojourn of this greatly loved child would come to its tragic conclusion on November 16th, 1885 at the end of a hangman's noose at the Northwest Mounted Police barracks in the prairie capital of Regina, "queen city of the plains", named in honour of Queen Victoria. Ironically, the day was as cool and sunny as the day he was born and he was hanged just after eight o'clock in the morning. He faced his death with great fortitude and dignity, supported to the very end by his heart-felt religious faith and the courage of his own convictions. Louis Riel's faith was a living entity - his profound love of God and personal relationship with him had directed every action and instinct during the course of his very turbulent and eventful life.
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What thoughts ran through Riel's consciousness as he stood on the stark scaffold with a hood over his head, waiting for the trap door to open to eternity? It was likely full of the turmoil he had generated throughout his career in which he led two rebellions against the Canadian government and fought for Métis rights; a turmoil that still surrounds him to this day. Louis Riel is a hero to many, a mystical Roman Catholic visionary and idealist, yet politically pragmatic, the passionate leader of a downtrodden race of people, a pitiful martyr. It is not a very well known fact that he was also a poet. To others, he is an insane being, a traitor, a misguided fanatic, a villain, a man with a love of popular adulation who liked to get his own way.
How does one begin to define the perplexing character of this man, comprised of so many different shadings of ambiguity? That is a very difficult exercise. He cannot be categorized and therein lies his ongoing fascination.
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Continue to .....
> Afterword (My Personal Thoughts)
> Riel, A Summary of His Life
>The Stone Circle