Louis Riel v. Canada: The Making of a Rebel

by J.M. Bumsted

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2001

About the author

J.M. Bumsted is the author of many popular and scholarly books on Canadian history, including Fur Trade Wars, The Dictionary of Manitoba Biography, and the widely used textbook The Canadian Peoples: A History. He teaches history at the University of Manitoba.

Reviews

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well written account of Louis Riel more from the stand-point of his convictions than a personal history. Most people would call Louis Riel a controversial character, well there is that but it is a mixture of complex and straight forward in my opinion. For me living in Canada I have never considered him a traitor, an out law nor a murderer, which has been used against his memory. No one is a traitor to their country, you own the country not the country own you, at least that is how it should be and see as such. Canada as a country even then didn't do anything for Louis Riel, his people nor aboriginal people, how could he then betray the country that didn't even give him basic rights? Even now over a hundred years after his death he has not been given any redress. For all the faults he had he was a man and should have been treated with the dignity that should be given to all, instead he was hung.