Louis Riel

Louis "David" Riel (October 22, 1844 – November 16, 1885), was a Canadian politician and leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government that sought to preserve Métis rights and culture as their homelands in the Northwest Territories came progressively under the Canadian sphere of influence.

Trial for treason

Several individuals closely tied to the government requested that the trial be held in Winnipeg in July of 1885. Although several historians contend that the trial was moved to Regina due to concerns with the possibility of an ethnically mixed and sympathetic jury, historian Thomas Flanagan states that an amendment of the North-West Territories Act (which dropped the provision that trials with crimes punishable by death should be tried in Manitoba), meant that the trial could be convened within the North-West Territories and did not have to be held in Winnipeg.

Related Topics:
Thomas Flanagan - North-West Territories Act

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Prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald ordered the trial to be convened in Regina, where Riel was tried before a jury of six English and Scottish Protestants, all from the area surrounding Regina. The trial began on July 28,1885, and lasted only five days.

Related Topics:
John A. Macdonald - English - Scottish - July 28 - 1885

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Riel delivered two lengthy speeches during his trial, defending his own actions and affirming the rights of the Métis people. He rejected his lawyer's attempt to argue that he was not guilty by reason of insanity, asserting,

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:"Life, without the dignity of an intelligent being, is not worth having."

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The jury found him guilty but recommended mercy; nonetheless, Judge Hugh Richardson sentenced him to death, with the date of his execution initially set for September 18, 1885. Fifty years later one of the jurors, Edwin Brooks, said that Riel was tried for treason but hanged for the murder of Thomas Scott.

Related Topics:
Hugh Richardson - September 18 - 1885

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