As a revolutionary, as a religious prophet, and as a spokesman for the metis people, louis riel changed the course of canadian history. He has archived the oral and print history of the northwest. Although louis riel is a well recognized name in canada, as school aged students we barely scratched the surface for the time period of canadian westward expansion and the manitoba act. Louis riel was the leader of the metis people descendants of families with one european parent and one native one. Riel, louis 184485 dictionary of canadian biography. Although of seveneighths white ancestry, riel always described himself as a metis a person of mixed european and aboriginal ancestry, who generally hunted. Louis riel was branded a traitor to canada but he was no traitor. Over time, louis riel has been seen as a demagogic madman. Louis riel and the creation of modern canada university of. Sep 17, 2019 louis riel 18441885 was an iconic figure in canadian history best known for his roles in the red river resistance of 1869 and the northwest resistance of 1885. During those 41 years he would help found two canadian provinces. The many reasons why the topic of louis riel generates such violent emotional responses in people who ought to know better is the subject of albert brazs book, the false traitor.
Louis riel, the fiery metis leader and founder of manitoba, continues to excite public interest as one of the most controversial and remarkable figures in canadian history. See more ideas about canadian prairies, political leaders and government of canada. A political study of the role louis riel has played, and continues to play, in our. Time chester brown reinvents the comicbook medium to create the. Often referred to as the father of manitoba, louis riel, the leader of the metis people of the canadian prairies, sought to preserve metis rights and culture during a.
Riel is regarded by some as a heroic freedom fighter who stood up for his people in the face of racist bigotry, and those who question his sanity still view him as an essentially honourable. Riels role in the creation of manitoba as a political entity was crucial, and he has a complicated position in our history. This canadian history for kids, sketches of canada, looks at life of metis leader louis riel. George stanleys, louis riel is the first fully documented biography of the prophet of the new world. Illustrated metis history series louis riel institute. A rebel and a powerful orator, he emerged as a leader of the metis in the red river settlement. Riel s mother, julie lagimodiere, was the daughter of the. Time chester brown reinvents the comic book medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps it has the.
In my quest to share more canadian history, i have been spending a lot of time thinking on our history. Louis riel hero or traitor canada history and mysteries. Dec 09, 2003 it has the thoroughness of a history book yet reads with the personalized vision of a novel. The commercial and critical success of this book is in and of itself indicative that this way of presenting history has enormous potential. This book explores the life of louis riel and the events leading up to the resistance of 1869. Taken from the memoirs of isabelle branconnier, this story captures canadian history in the latter 1800s through the eyes of a young woman.
Riel led two popular metis governments, was central in bringing manitoba into confederation, and was executed for high treason for. This book takes a look at louis riel from a historical perspective, examining the political and cultural ramifications of riels life for the citizens of western canada. Louis riel is a historical biography in comics by canadian cartoonist chester brown, published as a book in 2003 after serializion in 19992003. Louis riel and gabriel dumont kindle edition by boyden, joseph. Louis riels greatgrandniece jean teillet continues to. Worried that their land and rights were being taken away, louis riel led them through a rebellion. Mythic discourse and the postcolonial statejennifer reidpublished by university of manitoba presspages. Time chester brown reinvents the comicbook medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biographylouis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps insane. Jul 15, 2006 it has the thoroughness of a history book yet reads with the personalized vision of a novel. Louis riel is one of the most controversial heroesvillains in canadian history. Louis riel comics louis riel is a historical biography in comics by canadian cartoonist chester brown, published as a book in 2003 after serializion in 19992003. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Boniface, red river settlement present day winnipeg on october 22 or 23, 1844.
Louis riel was born october 22, 1844 on a farmstead at the juncture of the red and seine rivers, present day winnipeg. This parent was the son of jean baptiste riel, who was a french canadian and a native of berthier en haut. The metis leader recalls his struggle for his people in the moments before his execution 1885. A political leader of the metis people of the canadian prairies, riel is often portrayed as a rebel. He was a patriot who stood up for his people and his beliefs. To gain access to complete books and documents, visit deslibris through the discovery portal of a member library, or take out an individual membership. Riel is regarded by some as a heroic freedom fighter who stood up for his people in the face of racist bigotry, and those who question his sanity still view him as an essentially. Chester brown is a comicbook artist who has turned his inimitable style to a compelling moment in canadian history. Louis riel hero or tyrant many people till today think that louis riel was not guilty and that his sentence was just an easy way for the canadian government to get him out of their way. Louis riels greatgrandniece jean teillet continues to speak. Time chester brown reinvents the comicbook medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic. L ouis riel was born on october 22, 1844, in the red river colony, in what is now known as winnipeg, the capital of manitoba, to a metis father and a white mother. He was hanged on november 16, 1885 for treason, but was he a real villain.
The indigenous rebel who took the fight to white settlers. Apr 15, 2012 the formerly widespread perception of louis riel as an insane traitor, especially outside of the metis and french canadian community, weakened considerably since the late 20th century. This book takes a look at louis riel from a historical perspective, examining the political and cultural ramifications of riel s life for the citizens of western canada. Given a cree name and twice recognized as an honorary metis honore jaxon ii, doyle continues his work seeking justice for the northwest leader louis riel through exoneration. David doyle is a canadian plains research fellow and a retired first nations school principal. He fought for native and french rights while the identity of canada was beginning to form. Jean teillet is a lawyer, metis expert and the greatgrandniece of louis riel. Cat klerks louis riel is perhaps the most controversial figure in canadian history. In 1875, parliament granted riel amnesty for the red river rebellion, including his role in the execution of surveyor thomas scott. Legendary cartoonist chester brown reveals in the dusty closet of canadian history there are some skeletons that wont stop rattling. Louis sr, an educated man, had obtained land on the red river, where he gained a position of influence. Mythic discourse and the postcolonial state, by jennifer reid author.
Metis is a french word that can be translated as mixed blood. Louis riel essay canadian history essay assignment. Louis rielbiography of louis riel, metis spokesman, regarded as the founder of manitoba, teacher, and leader of the northwest rebellion. Louis riel was unjustly hanged and should be pardoned. Canadian history for everyone comic books and louis riel. Louis riel president of the provisional government of saskatchewan in office march 19, 1885 may 20, 1885 member of the canadian parliament for provencher in office october 1873 22 january 1874 preceded by georgeetienne cartier succeeded by andrew bannatyne personal details born louis david riel 18441022 22 october 1844 red river colony, ruperts land, british north america. Bellehumeur, and they had three children, the youngest of. Commemorate riels struggle for a bill of rights and the provisional government of assiniboia january 1870 having blocked the attempted canadian coup to. Time chester brown reinvents the comicbook medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps insane, nineteenth. Among the many streets and centres named for riel in these years was a dormitory at politically stormy simon fraser university. It is safe to say that no figure in canadian history has so divided canadians and canadian historians as louis riel.
As has been often noted by historians, the debate over the northwest rebellion and the subsequent trial of louis riel reveals the tensions that continue to distinguish canada. Riel grew up in the red river settlement in presentday manitoba. One of the most influential writers of western canadian history is george f. Ten years later, on november 16, 1885, riel was hanged for treason in connection with the1885. Commemorate riels struggle for a bill of rights and the provisional government of assiniboia january 1870 having blocked the attempted canadian coup to seize the northwest without metis or local. This book is a companion volume to louis riel it examines the powder keg that was the canadian northwest in 1885. Portrayals of riels role in the red river rebellion include the 1979 cbc television film riel and canadian cartoonist chester browns acclaimed 2003 graphic novel louis riel.
Maybe the most controversial person in the history of our country, louis riel, is hanged on november 16th, 1885. Furthermore louis s acts might be considered crazy by todays standards but in the 1890s it was not uncommon or insane. He was the leader of the metis persons of mixed french and indian ancestry in the territory that became the provinces of manitoba and saskatchewan, and was the central figure in the red river rebellion of 1870 and the saskatchewan rebellion of 1885. Louis riel is a historical biography in comics by canadian cartoonist chester brown, published as a book in 2003 after. Apr 22, 20 louis riel, metis leader, founder of manitoba, central figure in the red river and northwest resistance s born 22 october 1844 in saintboniface, red river settlement. His criticisms of canadian capitalists and his resistance against the armed might of the state resonated in an era of antivietnam war protests. Riel was the eldest of 11 children in a closeknit, devoutly religious, and affectionate family. Louis riel, the puzzling messianic figure of canadian history, was born into a devout catholic family in st.
To some louis riel was one of the founding fathers of a nation but to others he was a murderer who nearly tore a country apart. Chester brown reinvents the comic book medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards. A comicstrip biography representing canadian history through graphic art often overlooked and underappreciated, graphic novels serve as an alternative form of representing historical narratives. The trial of louis riel by sean kheraj and tom peace is licensed under a creative commons attributionnoncommercialsharealike 4.
Time chester brown reinvents the comicbook medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps. Not many people outside of canada are familiar with our history, and i would like to change that. Time chester brown reinvents the comicbook medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps it has the. See more ideas about canadian history, red river and first nations. The life and times of louis riel are dominated by his two confrontations with the power of ottawa and the ambitions of canada. Time chester brown reinvents the comic book medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps. Her book, the northwest is our mother, is a history of the metis nation.
Time chester brown reinvents the comicbook medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps insane. Time chester brown reinvents the comic book medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps insane, nineteenth. Perhaps canadian history would benefit from more books like these. Since the ethnic group usually called metis was closely tied to riel, the book is also a partial history of that group. The trial deserves coverage in part because of its large symbolic importance to canadians, in part because of how the story of louis riel shaped the history of north america, and in part because of the lingering questions about riel s mental state at the time of his participation in the northwest rebellion of 1885. The story deals with metis rebel leader louis riels antagonistic relationship with the newly established canadian government. Perhaps more importantly is that louis riel was the first comic book to become a canadian nonfiction bestseller. Ten years later, on november 16, 1885, riel was hanged for treason in connection with the1885 northwest rebellion. This is one of the hippest comics going and will be a controversial musthave in 2003. Louis riel 18441885 was an iconic figure in canadian history best known for his roles in the red river resistance of 1869 and the northwest resistance of 1885.
The circumstances of his trial and execution divided french from english canada, as the former embraced. Louis riel and gabriel dumont, giller prizewinning novelist joseph boyden writes about the roles of louis riel and gabriel dumont during the. The radical left also embraced riel in the 1960s and 1970s. Friends of louis riel is a nonpartisan society organized to engage canadians and international friends in creative conversations and actions relating to the exoneration of louis riel, thus promoting reconciliation and recognition of riels proper place in canadian history as canadas indigenous metis father of confederation.
Louis riel, canadian leader of the metis in western canada. Riel, louis, metis spokesman, regarded as the founder of manitoba, teacher, and leader of the northwest rebellion. Louis riel essay canadian history essay in my opinion louis riel was a hero because he fought for the rights of everyone who lived in the northwest, he was rebelling against a government, not a country and he was against acts of violence and loss of life. He was the leader of the metis persons of mixed french and indian ancestry in the territory that became the provinces of manitoba and saskatchewan, and was the central figure in the red river rebellion of. He studied for the priesthood in montreal though he was never ordained and worked at various jobs before returning to red river in the late 1860s. In large measure, this book is the history of louis riel, a metis leader, and his efforts to gain recognition and independence for the metis people. Timechester brown reinvents the comicbook medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography louis riel, winning the harvey awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps. In his introduction to the book, braz describes riel as simultaneously one of the most popular and most elusive figures in canadian literature and culture in general, noting that since his death in 1885. We did not enter the dominion of canada until 1870, after quite a complicated slew of events. Louis riel the canadians paperback february 28, 1999. This book was a great introduction to the issues, metis grievances, and important players of the time. Dec, 2016 childrens stories about louis riel, a canadian politician, a founder of the province of manitoba, and a political leader of the metis people of the canadian prairies.