The Rebel: Gabriel Dumont

Tales from Big Spirit

by David Alexander Robertson, Andrew Lodwick (Illustrator)

For Tyrese, history class is the lowest point of his school day. That is, until his friend Levi reveals a secret – a secret that brings history alive, in the form of one Gabriel Dumont. Through Dumont, a great Métis leader of the Northwest Resistance, the boys experience a bison hunt, a skirmish with the Blackfoot, an encounter with the great Louis Riel, and, ultimately, a great battle of the Northwest Resistance at Batoche, Saskatchewan.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Indigenous, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Biography Memoir

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2014

About the author

DAVID A. ROBERTSON is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Literary Award, has won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, as well as the Writer's Union of Canada Freedom to Read award. He has received several other accolades for his work as a writer for children and adults, podcaster, public speaker, and social advocate. He was honoured with a Doctor of Letters by the University of Manitoba for outstanding contributions in the arts and distinguished achievements in 2023. He is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and lives in Winnipeg.

Reviews

[Barbara McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars - Not my favorite in the series. I thought there was a lot of context missing and it ended rather abruptly but Dumont is a tough historical figure to capture in 30 pages.

[Kristal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to learning about Gabriel Dumont and a bit about Louis Riel. I have to say though, between this edition from "tales from big spirit" and the other books, I liked the illustrations the least- they are less detailed and polished than the others.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this series was a very creative and interesting way to present history. As an adult, I didn't need the framing device of the modern youth at the beginning and end, but I can see why that would appeal to the target audience. Very well done!

[Meepelous · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I had apparently heard of Gabriel Dumont before, a little more explanation as to where he came from might have been helpful. It just felt rather isolated as a story.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I need to read more about Gabriel Dumont. I've known this was true for awhile, but just how much I learned from this short comic really drove that home for me. The time travel elements to have Gabriel Dumont tell his own story to modern kids was clever and fun to read. I feel like this gave a really great basic picture of Dumont and served as a solid intro to his life. I wasn't in love with the art style, but I definitely enjoyed reading this one anyway.

I recommend this for anyone looking for a solid comics introduction to Gabriel Dumont's life. I look forward to reading more about Gabriel Dumont in general, and more of the biographical tales in the Tales from Big Spirit series.

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry. Not much enthusiasm for the art on this one and I’m getting a little tired of the device used to introduce the historical figures via the modern school children. I’m still a fan of the series and Robertson but this wasn’t my favourite of the 7.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing little known Metis Hero!

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the depiction of Gabriel Dumont, but found there was context missing and the narrative device of telling his story to kids in the future detracted focus in my opinion.