Riel's rebellions

Riel's rebellions (1870, 1885), uprisings by the Métis against the encroachment of English-speaking settlers on their lands. Their leader was Louis Riel (1844-85), a Méti from Manitoba. During the 19th century the Métis, of mixed French and Canadian Indian descent, had developed a vigorous national identity and distinctive culture. They particularly resented the expansionist aspirations of the Canadian government. In 1870 Riel led the Métis in a rebellion against the incorporation of Manitoba into Canada. It was quickly suppressed and Riel was forced to flee to the USA.

Riel remained politically active and upon his return home even managed to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons. He continued to campaign for the rights of the Métis. Frustrated by the Federal government's lack of interest, the increasingly unstable and religiously fanatic Riel decided to rebel again. On 19 March 1885 at Saint-Laurent he formed a provisional government, although Riel himself was not a member, as this would have been inappropriate to his role as prophet by divine sanction. The charismatic Riel, however, was the undisputed leader of the rebellion.

The first serious clash occurred when 300 Métis under Riel's military leader, Gabriel Dumont, encountered 100 men of the North-West Mounted Police. Their commander, Superintendent Leif Crozier, impetuously attacked the Métis who held the higher ground and were well protected by natural cover. He lost twelve men killed and eleven wounded and would have probably been annihilated had Riel not ordered his men to stop fighting.

Where the rebellion failed was in Riel's inability to recruit support from various Native American groups. Although some Native Americans such as those led by Wandering Spirit undertook occasional acts of violence, such as his attack on the town of Frog Lake on 2 April, the chronic factionalism among them and lack of co-ordination meant they made little contribution to Riel's cause. The attack on Frog Lake provoked the Canadian government into action. Maj Gen Frederick Middleton marched with 800 men on Riel's capital at Batoche. While Dumont wanted to conduct a guerrilla campaign, Riel refused, deciding to stand and fight with the 175-200 men available to him. Middleton won a convincing victory on 9 May and Riel surrendered six days later. He was tried in Regina in front of a hostile jury and despite his evident mental illness, he was found guilty of treason, sentenced to death, and hanged on 16 November.

— Chris Mann