Louis Riel

Louis Riel was a prominent leader of the Métis, a group of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry in Canada. He led the Red River Rebellion in 1869-1870, which resulted in the creation of the province of Manitoba and the establishment of Métis rights within the Canadian Confederation. Riel sought to protect the culture, land, and political rights of the Métis people, who were under threat from encroaching Canadian settlers and government policies. He later led the North-West Rebellion in 1885, a final attempt to assert Métis and Indigenous rights, but was ultimately captured, tried, and executed by the Canadian government. Riel is now regarded as a father of Manitoba and a key figure in Canadian history, symbolizing the struggle for Indigenous rights and cultural preservation.