'Honour a great man': Louis Riel's legacy gets its due

Louis Riel has a complicated legacy, convicted as a traitor to the country but now oftenseen as a Mtis hero.

As Manitobanscelebratetheirannual statutory holiday named in his honour, many are suggesting different ways to honour Riel's legacy some in favour of exonerating him, others against, and still othersproposing new ways to gain more national recognition for the man recently named the first leader of Manitoba.

• The fate of Louis Riel
• 5 things you may not know about Louis Riel

Born in St.Boniface, Man., Riel sought to preserveMtisrights and culture as their homelands were progressively encroacheddue toCanada'spush toward settlement of the West. Heled two resistance movements the Red River Rebellion in Manitobain 1869-1870 and the Northwest Rebellion in Saskatchewanin 1885.

Resistance leader

The Red River Rebellion followed the establishmentof a provisional government by Riel and his followers.

Ottawa sent a military expeditionto enforce federal authority following Riel'sexecution of Thomas Scott, a member of apro-Canadian faction who had resisted the provisional government and threatened to kill Riel.

• The execution of Thomas Scott

Riel fled to the United States before the Canadian troops arrived, but when Manitoba entered Confederation in 1870, the actincorporated some of the terms that he originally laid out.

Riel's exile ended in 1884 when Mtis in Saskatchewan called on him to help protect their rights. The resistance turned into a military operation once again as Canadian troops descended on the area.

Riel was41 when he was hanged in Regina in 1885 for high treason.

In the 130-plus years and generations of Canadians since then, Riel's national reputation as a traitor has slowly been replaced by his imageas a folk hero, a protector of minority rights and culture.

• Mtis celebrate historic Supreme Court land ruling
• 'We are coming home Louis Riel': Manitoba Mtis celebrate deal to end 146-year struggle

"He was a defender of the fundamental values that Canadians hold dear, including equality and social justice. All Canadians, whether they areMtisor not, can be proud of what Louis Riel accomplished," Carolyn Bennett, minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, said in November.

'Murdered by Canada'

"Riel was definitely murdered by Canada, there's not a question about it," said ManitobaMtisFederation president DavidChartrand. "He was innocent. He was fighting for theMtis people I think there would be no doubt today."

Chartrand's chosen way to honour him would be to erecta statue of Riel on Parliament Hill with the otherFathers of Confederation.

"If youtruly want to honour a great man, he is the father ofManitobawithout doubt, then let's make him a Father of Confederation," said Chartrand.

• Province recognizes Louis Riel as 1st leader of Manitoba

Mtis groups once called on Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to pardon Riel.

GuySavoie, a Rielrelative andelder with the Union NationalMetisseSt. Joseph du Manitoba, said that's not enough. He wants to see Riel exonerated, which means to be absolved from any wrongdoing.

"If you go for a pardon, there's still an assumption of guilt," he said. "So exoneration is the only thing that is left.Let him take his place in the history of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada."

ButClementChartier, president of theMtisNational Council, argues against exonerating or pardoning Riel. "The discussion has gone beyond pardon, now the term being used is exoneration, but the Mtis nation is on record currently that we do not favour a pardon or an exoneration, because we don't believe Louis Rieldid anything wrong."

He wants to revisit the question of what to do in 2020 the 150th anniversary of Riel negotiating Manitoba's entry into Confederation.

Rename Langevin Block, MP says

A Manitoba MP would like to see Ottawa rename the Langevin Block, which was originally named for one of the people who introduced the residential school system in Canada.

Call it the Louis Riel Block instead, which would be a fitting way to honour Riel and address reconciliation, said Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette, who represents Winnipeg Centre.

He also noted Riel himself was elected then re-elected as an MP but never sat in the House.

"What would he prefer, would he prefer an apology or would he prefer us dealing with something concrete, that would help future generations?" Ouellette said.

"Ithink he would say, 'Please do something to help people today.'"