POST REBELLION& The Trial of Louis Riel

Post Rebellion

Louis Riel surrendered to General Middleton, who offered to protect him until the time of trial

Post Rebellion

Louis Riel as a Prisoner of the Canadian Militia

The First Nations Leaders

Chief Crowfoot

1886 John A. Macdonald invited Crowfootto Ottawa

During this trip Crowfoot hoped to get a pardon for his adoptive son Poundmaker

Fell ill during trip and had to return from Ottawa early

Died in 1890

What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. — Crowfoot 1890

The First Nations Leaders

Poundmaker

Following the Metis defeat at Batoche heSurrendered himself to the Canadian Militia

Convicted for participation in NW Rebellion

Sentenced to Stoney Mountain Penetentiary for 3 Years

Served 7 Months due to failing health

Died 1886, age 44

The First Nations Leaders

Big Bear

Captured by NWMP in July of 1885

Found guilty of participating in the NW Rebellion

Sentenced to 3 years at Stoney Mountain Penitentiary

Served 2 years due to failing health

Died 1888, aged 63

The First Nations Leaders

Big Bear & Poundmaker as Prisoners

Canadian Gov. used the Frog Lake massacre to link the Cree to the NW Rebellion

Despite evidence to suggest the two were not connected & that Big Bear had tried to stop it from happening

Also ignored that Poundmaker had not attacked anyone

Gabriel Dumont

Following the defeat at Batoche Gabriel Dumontfled the country to Montana

Gave himself up to the US Cavalry, who determined he was political refugee

Joined Buffalo Bill`s Wild West as a rebel leaderand crack marksman

Returned to Canada in 1888 to give a lecture in Montreal

Returned to Batoche in 1893 and settled the lands he originally claimed.

Died in 1906

Gabriel Dumont

Louis Riel`s Trial

Louis Riel Trial

Arguably the most famous trial in Canadian History

Took place in July 1885, lasted 5 days

Defense Council tried to prove Riel`s insanity & therefore he was not guilty of High Treason

6 Jurors found gave a guilty verdict with a request for mercy

Judge sentenced him to death by hanging on September 18, 1885

Problems with the Trial

• All 6 of the Jurors were English Protestants

• Council tried to prove Riel was Insane against Riel`s wishes

• John A. Macdonald decided to charge Riel with an obscure British Law dating to 1342.

- Canada`s treason law did not carry a death penalty

Louis Riel

Emerged as a hero and the Father of Manitoba

"I am glad that the Crown has proved that I am the leader of the Metis in the NorthWest. I will perhaps be one day acknowledged as more than a leader of the Metis, and if so I hope I will also have the opportunity to be acknowledged as a leader of good in this great country."

Remember Thomas Scott

Fifty years later one of the jurors, Edwin Brooks said,

"Riel was tried for treason but hanged for the murder of  Thomas Scott"