By: Mariah Siddiqui
Today marks the 133rd anniversary of the execution of Louis Riel and the government has been trying to reconcile their past mistakes, but would exonerating him for his crimes be the best way to do so?
While some people push for Riel to be exonerated and think that would be the correct way for the government to reconcile with the Métis people, others think differently about the topic.
“There have been some movements to [exonerate Riel]. I take my lead from the members of the Riel family themselves who have pretty consistently said we do not want Louis Riel exonerated. We want what Canada did to stand and to be seen for the real crime that it was,” said Margaret Froh, president of the Métis Nation of Ontario. “I think that I am all about respecting the family of Riel.”
Froh believes “we need to mark, acknowledge, and reconcile” with what the government did but “we do not need to exonerate him to do that.”
In a CBC article, Jean Tillet, the great-grandniece of Louis Riel, spoke about how exonerating Riel would not be the best way to honour him, stating “It will achieve nothing. I prefer to leave history the way it is.”
At a flag raising ceremony today at Queen’s Park, held for Louis Riel Day, Froh and various others spoke about Riel and his legacy.
“I think it’s absolutely fitting that we’re on the steps of this legislature that actually put a bounty on the head of Louis Riel, to raise the Métis Nation flag and to declare ourselves not just a part of the history of Canada but to declare ourselves as a vibrant and critical part of this country today,” said Froh.
“What I feel we are here to do today is to recommit to the reconciliation, the reforming of our story together,” said MPP Kathleen Wynne, who was also in attendance.
Louis Riel Day is a reminder of the sacrifice Riel made for the Métis people and is celebrated to honour his influence. Riel was a hero to the Métis Nation and began their journey toward equal rights within the government for their people.
Timeline by: Aaliyah Dasoo/RSJ
Many gathered in the cold area outside to witness the flag raising and pay tribute to Louis Riel.
Margaret Froh raises the flag as the audience watches it ascend. (Mariah Siddiqui/RSJ)
“It is a celebratory day, in terms of recognizing the strength, resilience, and the beauty of the Métis Nation and of our people, of what our ancestors have fought for so that we could be here today and we could gather in this place and space which has a dark history, and we bring the light,” said Tera Beaulieu, president of the Toronto & York Region Métis Council.
“We always bring the light on this day to these grounds to recognize the sacrifices that not only Riel made, but that our families and communities made so that we could be here today.”
Video by: Rosie Leonard/RSJ
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