Louis Riel

Louis Riel was a Métis leader and founder of the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan in Canada. He fought to protect Métis rights, culture, and land during times of increasing European settlement. Riel led two major resistance movements—the Red River Resistance (1869-1870) and the North-West Resistance (1885)—aimed at securing political recognition and land rights. He is regarded as a national hero by many Indigenous and Métis people for his efforts to preserve their identity and sovereignty. Riel's legacy is complex, blending his role as a defender of his people's rights with his controversial treatment by the Canadian government.