Louis Riel
Louis Riel, Métis leader, founder of Manitoba, central figure in the Red River and North-West resistances (born 22 October 1844 in Saint-Boniface, Red River Settlement; died 16 November 1885 in Regina, SK).
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October 22, 1844
Louis Riel
Birth of Louis Riel
Métis leader Louis Riel, who was founder of Manitoba and a central figure in the North-west Rebellion, was born at Red River Settlement [Man].
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July 31, 1868
Louis Riel
Rupert's Land Act
The Rupert's Land Act was passed, allowing the Crown to declare Rupert's Land part of the Dominion of Canada.
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September 01, 1869
Louis Riel
William McDougall Was Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
William McDougall, previously Canada's minister of public works, was appointed lieutenant-governor of Rupert's Land and the North-West Territories.
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November 02, 1869
Louis Riel
Red River Resistance
With 120 men, Louis Riel occupied Upper Fort Garry in the Red River Colony to block the transfer of Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) to Canada. Known as the Red River Resistance, the Métis — led by Riel — and First Nations allies defended the Red River Colony from White settlers and government encroachment on their lands. Louis Riel was hanged for treason, and Cree chiefs Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear) and Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker) were imprisoned. Promises to protect the Métis were still unfulfilled more than a decade later, sparking the Northwest Resistance in 1885. In 2019, Poundmaker was exonerated by the federal government.
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November 02, 1869
Louis Riel
Métis Refuse McDougall Entry to Red River and the North West
In a show of solidarity, Métis horsemen refused North-West Territories Lieutenant-Governor William McDougall entry to their land. He was forced to retreat to the United States.
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December 01, 1869
Louis Riel
HBC Surrenders Rupert's Land
The Hudson's Bay Company surrendered Rupert's Land to the Canadian government.
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December 23, 1869
Louis Riel
Riel's Provisional Government
Louis Riel issued a Declaration of the people of Rupert's Land and the Northwest and became head of the provisional government of Red River.
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January 19, 1870
Louis Riel
Smith Meets Settlers
Donald Smith met with settlers at Fort Garry during the Red River Rebellion to present Canada's position on the transfer of the territory from the Hudson's Bay Company to Dominion ownership.
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July 15, 1870
Louis Riel
Transfer of Rupert's Land
The British Crown officially transferred Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory to Canada. These lands comprise present-day Manitoba, most of Saskatchewan, southern Alberta, southern Nunavut, and northern parts of Ontario and Québec.
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August 24, 1870
Louis Riel
Riel Flees to US
On the arrival of General Wolseley and his troops from Canada, Louis Riel and other members of his government fled to the US.
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April 16, 1874
Louis Riel
Riel Expelled
Louis Riel was expelled from the House of Commons when he attempted to take his seat.
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March 19, 1885
Louis Riel
Riel's Provisional Government
At Batoche, a provisional government of the North-West was proclaimed, with Louis Riel as president and Gabriel Dumont as adjutant-general.
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March 26, 1885
Louis Riel
Battle of Duck Lake
Leif Crozier, with a force of 98 North-West Mounted Police, was routed by Métis under Gabriel Dumont at Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, marking the outbreak of the North-West Resistance.
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May 09, 1885
Louis Riel
Battle of Batoche
At Batoche, Métis effectively resisted General Middleton's forces for three days until drawn out of their rifle pits by a concerted attack.
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November 16, 1885
Louis Riel
Louis Riel Hanged
Louis Riel was hanged for treason at the Regina jail. He had been convicted after a trial held in Regina from 28 July to 1 August. Macdonald's refusal to grant leniency made Riel a symbol of English-Canadian oppression.
