Louis Riel, a Métis born in Red River, was the central leader in the Métis struggle with the Canadian government to protect their way of life. At 25 he led the resistance at Red River in 1869, and was instrumental in the creation of the province of Manitoba in 1870. Forced into exile for the execution of Canadian settler Thomas Scott, Riel was persuaded to return to Canada in 1884 to help the Métis of Saskatchewan. The Northwest Rebellion of 1885, led by Riel, was quickly put down by federal government troops. Riel was arrested, and later hanged for treason, in spite of his lawyer's arguments that Riel was not guilty by reason of insanity.
Riel's death ignited a furor of anti-English sentiment in Québec, eventually contributing to the demise of the Conservatives in that province. The execution of Louis Riel has had a lasting effect on Canadian history. Today, Riel is officially acknowledged as a founder of Manitoba.
