Louis Riel Essay (Canadian History) Essay

In my opinion Louis Riel was a hero because he fought for the rights of everyone who lived in the northwest, he was rebelling against a political science, not a country and he was against acts of violence and loss of life. moreover Louiss acts might be considered crazy by todays standards but in the 1890s it was not uncommon or insane. Louis lived in the Red River settlement and wanted to protect their rights but he also fought for the rights of the white settlers in the area and for the primevals. Louis was a patriot, he was proud to be Canadian, he serious didnt agree with the government at the time.Louis Riel was a independence fighter, not a rebel against his country. He was rebelling against the men in government who suppressed his people. The entire process which saw the spread of the Canadian Governments imperialistic authority over the west, ignored the people who were there long before England decided to give it to a new country. Riel was a freedom fighter for the west a nd should be recognized as such. He approach and fought a central Canadian government, ignorant of the west, long before Preston Manning was born. (Richard Brown, Alberta, July 7th, 1999 http//www.metisresourcecentre.mb.ca/quotes/). If Louis hadnt stood up for the Meti people, the government would excite let them starve and their culture would be lost. Likewise if any minority was treated bid that now, they could lonesome(prenominal) be so fortunate to have someone like Louis Riel to stand up for them.Louis was against violence unless it was abruptly necessary. He only wanted to ensure that the people of the Northwest would retain their rights and traditions after the Canadian government took control of the area. When he and his Mati people used violence it was because they had no other options. John A MacDonald breaks the uprightness of the time by inducing rebellion. (Sir Wilfred Laurier http//www.metisresourcecentre.mb.ca/quotes/). Two examples of Riel using non-violent sol utions first are when he sent Meti to stay the land surveyors instead of sending them to kill the surveyors. And when he seized fort Garry and its munitions, instead of burning it down or shooting the people inside. His method of not being vicious helped him be victorious in umteen situations. You can be sure that we would have beatenthem had it not been for Louis Riel who always counseled us not to peach their blood Gabriel Dumont.Today, if someone came up to you and said they were chosen by god to lead their people to freedom would you believe them or laugh and call them insane? Chances are most modern people would do the laughing. But in the 1880s things were different, people were more religious and it was less than impossible to voice your opinions to the government. Riel lived in a time when the country was still being shaped, new provinces were being formed, and he was not kayoed of line to demand that his people be included. Today we have a responsible government, for ex ample when native people in BC felt cheated out of their ancestors land, our government gave some of the land back and took move to see that that doesnt happen again. Ironically this is the same land the post-confederation government took awayWhen you look at all the facts and consider the time period, Riel doesnt seem like such a great(p) guy. He did what any patriotic, freedom loving Canadian would have done in his shoes. Sure some of his beliefs and ideas may have been a little deranged, but when you compare it to all the exemplary things he accomplished, it dosent seam like a big deal. I am more convinced everyday that without a single censure I did right and I have always believed that, as I have acted honestly, the time forget come when the people of Canada will see and acknowledge it.(Louis Riel http//www.metisresourcecentre.mb.ca/quotes/) Maybe it wouldnt be so bad if some of our modern politicians were a little more like Louis Riel.