Louis Riel honoured in Manitoba on anniversary of his 1885 execution

He was hung as a traitor 136 years ago, but Louis Riel's vision to protect the rights of the Métis people is very much alive today, dignitaries said at a Tuesday ceremony where they placed wreaths to mark the anniversary of his execution.

"Today is a day that is both heavy in our hearts and also a day where we can hold up our achievements," said Will Goodon with the Manitoba Métis Federation.

"It's a sombre day because he was murdered. He was executed by our country for standing up for rights of our Métis nation, for standing up for rights of all minorities and for that he wasn't lauded.

"But at the same time, we remember why he stood up for those rights. So I wanted to say … it's also a day of celebration for his dream."

When he was just 25, during the winter of 1869-1870, Riel led an uprising and formed a provisional government in Manitoba that refused to accept annexation with Canada unless a list of rights protecting their land, language and political rights was honoured.

At the time, there were 12,000 people in the postage-stamp-sized province, and 10,000 were Red River Métis. But Riel's list of rights also recognized equality and bilingualism assurances for First Nations, English and French.

But many in eastern Canada called for Riel's head after his government executed an Ontario man, Thomas Scott, who had been threatening Riel and the Métis. Although Riel fled to the United States when Canadian troops arrived, many of the rights he listed in the Manitoba Act were accepted when the province joined Confederation in 1870.

Riel returned to Canada to help the Métis protect their rights in Saskatchewan during the 1885 Northwest Resistance that was eventually defeated by federal troops.

He was tried, convicted and hanged in a public gallows at the Northwest Mounted Police barracks in Regina on Nov. 16, 1885. He was 41.

His body was brought back to the Red River Settlement for burial at the St. Boniface Cathedral cemetery.

Since his death, views of Riel by many non-Métis has softened with calls to pardon or even fully exonerate him.

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson on Tuesday called Riel "a passionate defender of Métis people" but also someone who played a key role in creating the nation of Canada as we know it.

"For that, all Canadians owe him a debt of gratitude," she said. "The values that this first government upheld are, in my view, a prime illustration of what it means to be Manitoban — respect for equality, but also respect for our unique histories."

In 2016, Manitoba formally recognized Riel as its father of Confederation and founder of the province, and now has an annual statutory holiday named in his honour.