Rarely can one find a character as controversial and divided as Louis Riel, a man whom many regard as a hero for bringing to light the plight of the many minority groups in Canada-such as the Métis-, whereas others may deem him to be a traitor for his actions against the Canadian Government. Without a doubt, supporters of both sides cannot help but acknowledge that good or bad, Louis Riel had changed the course of history for Canada forever. A hero is someone who displays courage and possesses a selfless heart, therefore due to his many benevolent actions and deeds, such as standing up for the rights of the Métis, being responsible for the creation of Manitoba and Saskatchewan with a full list of rights, and the fact that throughout his life he had nothing but good intentions for the future of the Métis, Louis Riel should be regarded as a hero.
Firstly, it goes without mention that Lois Riel was a champion of the Métis, and took on the difficult and arduous task of leading them in their pursuit of equal rights in the eyes of the Canadian government. He led the provisional government they had created, in a bid to set the kind of laws and rights they wanted to see established in the Canadian government, and these ideas are reflected in the list of rights he had proposed. Riel also possessed many admirable skills such as leadership and decisiveness, which greatly helped him when making key decisions in the best interest of the Métis. Despite the many controversial decisions he had made, such as the execution of Thomas Scott and the seizure of Fort Gary during the Red River Rebellion, one cannot help but notice that all of his actions were in the best interest of the Métis, and that despite the many personal benefits he would’ve received if he had abandoned the Métis (reacceptance by the government, life of comfort), not once did he even consider backstabbing them.
There are many who would argue that Louis Riel was a cowardly man, seeking nothing but power and personal benefit, therefore he should not be called a hero. By examining Riel’s actions and understanding his motives, it is clearly evident that this is not the case. Louis Riel had an education in law, and if he had wanted, he could’ve easily retired to a life of luxury as a lawyer in Quebec. Instead, he saw the plight of the Métis and due to his selfless qualities, felt compelled to help them. This further strengthens the notion that Riel was always looking out for the interests of the Métis (and minority groups in general), which was further strengthened when he returned for the Northwest Rebellion, abandoning his comfortable life in the U.S.A. Deep down, Louis Riel was very patriotic towards Canada, and wouldn’t even consider rebelling against Canada. Alas, fate would have it that due to the fact that the politicians in Ottawa were turning a deaf ear towards his direction, and he was forced to take drastic measures. Despite popular belief, Riel was rebelling against the traditional European ignorance held by the government officials, and was never rebelling against the structure that is known as Canada. Louis Riel just wanted equal rights for the Métis, and in the process also ‘gave birth’ to both Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
In conclusion, Louis Riel was a man of courage, and great loyalty towards his country, as his true intentions had always been with helping the Métis achieve equal status in Canada, further supporting true Canadian ideals such as acceptance and equality. Riel will always be remembered as a leader who fought for his people, and in the process changed the history of Canada permanently, for which we can thank him for Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In the end, thanks to his exceptional courage and leadership Louis Riel is a true Canadian hero.
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