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Promoting an Alternate Canadian Identity: Louis Riel

What were his motives and goals behind creating a national identity for Canada?

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Louis Riel
Canada, Britain, and the U.S were attacking the Hudson’s Bay Company rule in the 1850’s. The HBC decided it would be best to surrender its monopoly, which included Rupert’s Land, the North West, the Red River settlement. This led to the migration of Protestant settlers from the East to move into the primary. They created tension and fear in the Roman Catholic Metis through their aggressive methods. Metis felt that preservation of their religion, land rights, and culture was threatened, as the British and Canadian government didn’t care about the Metis. This mentality of viewing the Metis as insignificant is seen because the negotiations of the Metis land and home were made as if no population existed there. This treatment served as a major motivation.
Louis Riel’s main goals:
  • Prevent the mapping out of Metis territory as part of the Canadian colony
  • Preserve the Metis’ land rights, religion, and culture

How did his goals turn into actions?

Louis Riel led the Red River Rebellion, and resisted the Canadian government’s goal take over the Metis territory by:
  • Preventing the governor from entering the Metis territory
  • Declaring their own provincial government that functioned to negotiate with the federal government

How did his actions create the Canada we know today?

Riel’s action have led to the creation of Manitoba in 1870. The province officially became bilingual and has two publicly funded education systems. It also lead to the affirmations of Metis contributions on November 12, 1998.

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