lesson 14 nw rebellion & trial
TRANSCRIPT
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"