Viewed by some as a savior, and others as a traitor, Louis Riel, "The Father of Manitoba," nevertheless became the voice of the Métis people during an unstable time in Canadian History. From 1869 to 1885, Riel was the political (and quite possibly spiritual) leader of the Métis and their struggle to secure a place in western Canadian society.
             In January 1869, The Hudson's Bay Company sold much of its land to the Canadian Government. Deciding that the Métis farms would be a good place to install English-speaking settlers from Ontario, the Government sent out surveyors that summer from Ottawa, disregarding any Métis rights and treating the people with great ignorance. Louis Riel and other Metis stopped the surveyors faced with the threat of losing their land, the Métis decided to resist by forming a National Committee and setting up a provisional government.
             By forming a National Committee, the Métis managed to prevent the Governor from entering Red River and seized Upper Fort Garry. The angry settlers fought back but were surrounded and held prisoner including the very obnoxious Thomas Scott.
             In an attempt to negotiate with The Government, Riel set up a provisional government in early December. Wanting to become more than just a territory, The Government sent out men to negotiate with Riel and a winter agreement seemed to be headed their way. Peace ended when Canadian settlers attacked the Métis of Upper Fort Garry. The Métis managed to capture Thomas Scott again and sentenced him to death. To many English-speaking Protestants in Ontario, this was cold-blooded murder and called upon the Métis for revenge. French-Canadians felt a common bond with the Métis causing a massive emotional split in Canada. At this point, the Canadian Government stepped in by sending troops and beginning negotiations with the Métis. The end result became the Manitoba Act.
             On July 15th, 1870, Manitoba became Canada's fifth province. Despite...