Today is Louis Riel Day in Manitoba.
He is now widely considered the Father of Manitoba, although it wasn’t always this way. Not too long ago it was taught in schools that Riel was a traitor to Canada and that his execution at Regina was justified.
Some people will call it revisionist history, but my feeling is that the re-examination of the facts with a less racist view has resulted in a story closer to the truth being told.
I personally do not think that Riel was necessarily a saint, few leaders are. To become a leader of people you often need some ruthless qualities to your personality. I do however believe that he was truly fighting for his people and their well being when he led the “rebellions” that he did. His labelling as a traitor seems to have been the work of a government that didn’t want to deal with The West.
What I find most ironic about Louis Riel Day is that the people here that are most opposed to the holiday being named as such, are also the most likely to resent the way that politics take place today in Ottawa and how they feel that the western provinces do not get a fair shake.
Riel was the original Reformer. The West wanted in on her own terms, not on those being forced by Ottawa politicians.
He is a man that helped build this country, and I am proud that my province has decided to honour him, warts and all.
