Louis Riel Changed Manitoba Forever

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“I know that through the grace of God, I am the founder of Manitoba,” (Riel, 1885). This quote, by Louis Riel whilst he was on trial in Regina still stands true in today where Manitobans we are constantly feeling the presence of Riel’s legacy and accomplishments. He was the one who originally set the rights that Manitobans and Métis should have. Yet another way he affected Manitoba was in the Manitoba Act of 1870. Furthermore, he gave not only Manitobans, but French-Canadians and Métis alike an icon to venerate. Manitoba would not be what it is today without Louis Riel. One way that Louis Riel changed Manitoba forever was the creation of the Métis Bill of Rights. The Métis Bill of Rights was a revised list of rights that Louis Riel’s provisional government proposed to the Government of Canada. One aspect of this Bill of Rights was “The right to elect their own Legislative Assembly, with the power to pass all local laws,” (Clark and McKay 220). It is clear that this request was granted and still stands today. Without Louis Riel’s effort on this issue who knows when Manitoba would have gotten its own elected Legislative Assembly. Some argue that everything Louis Riel accomplished with the Métis Bill of Rights would have eventually been enacted by Parliament. However, this is untrue for numerous reasons. One of which is how the Métis Bill of Rights consisted of many rights intended specifically for minorities such as Métis or French-Canadians. The federal government at the time did not have minorities on its mind which made it hard for legislation relating to minorities to be passed. Another way that the Métis Bill of Rights still affects us today is how it ensured “The right to have Winnipeg connected by rail to the nearest railw... ... middle of paper ... ...ich are educated in and more. He set out the rights that Manitobans deserve. He got us into the country we call our own and finally, he gave us a hero, an icon, a leader to admire and look up to. It is clear that he changed Manitoba forever and without him who knows where we might be. Works Cited Clark, Penney, and Roberta McKay. “Chapter 10: The Nation Expands.” Canada Revisited. Edmonton, Alberta: Arnold Publishing Ltd., 1992. 218-222, 249-252. “Culture, Heritage and Tourism.” Province of Manitoba. Web. . “Difference between Canadian Provinces and Territories.” Privy Council Office - Bureau Du Conseil Privé. Web. . Napoléon Thompson. “An Appeal for Justice.” The Gibbet of Regina the Truth about Riel; Sir John A. Macdonald and His Cabinet before Public Opinion. New York: Thompson & Moreau, 1886. 186

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