Trials In Connection With The North West Rebellion 1885

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ....written, we will be able to give you a pietty good idea of what the contents of that lettei, vere or were intended to be, and what the intention of the prisoner and toe 01 hers who were present was in writing that letter. 4. On the 28th May, the last overt act charged was committed. The prisoner and those who were with him met the troops at the neighborhood of a place called Frenchman's Butte, and there engaged with the volunteers of the Dominion, under the command of General Strange, and were, in fact, in open war, on that occasion, against the Government. Those are the four acts we charge against the prisoner, and I will now bring forward evidence to establish them. John Pbitchabd, sworn, testified as follows: --Examined by Mr. Scott: Q. Where do yon live? A. I used to live at Frog Lake. Q. Up to what time? A. Up the 15th April last. Q. What was your occupation? A. I was an Indian Department interpreter. Q. Were you there on the 2nd April? A. Yes, I was. Q. Did you see the prisoner there? A. Yes, .I have seen him there. Q. Ai.y others with him? A. Yes, he had all his band with him. t. Was that at the settlement--what is called Frog Lake settlement? A. Yes. Q. Was the prisoner usually camped there with his band? A. Yes. Q. How far frum the settlement? A. He usually campid about a mile from the settlement. Q. When did he come into the settlement with his band? A. Well, he was there the whole winter. Q. I mean, when did he leave his camp about a mile distant and come into the settlement with his band? A. Well, the first time when he oame in with his band was on the 1st day of April, about 8 o'clock in the evening. He came in there and had a talk with tie Indian agent, and on the 1st day of April there in the evening he said be--Big

In 1885, Louis Riel was charged with high treason, found guilty, and consequently executed for his role in Saskatchewan's North-West Rebellion. During his trial, the Métis leader gave two speeches, passionately defending the interests of the Métis in western Canada as well as his own life. Riel's Defence studies these speeches, demonstrating the range of Riel's political and personal concerns. The first and better known of the two speeches addresses the jury, while Riel's second speech - rarely reprinted - addresses the court following his guilty verdict. Both orations have been edited, annotated, and reprinted, and are followed by essays from diverse perspectives including philosophy, law, history, political science, religion, and communication studies. Through the course of their inquiry, contributors come to understand more about Riel's personal character and political thought, as well as his arguments supporting Métis land claims, grievances against the federal government, and his immigration plan for the North-West. Evaluating the rhetorical quality, legal merit, and cultural stakes of his speeches, Riel's Defence reveals the significance of the last public statements made by a man who indelibly shaped Canada’s history by combining his personal vision with a national vision.

This book tells us about the Métis, who simply wanted the long-standing boundaries of their river-lot farms respected by the government as Ottawa divided up the land to sell it to homesteaders. It tells about the Indians, whose land had been sold by the government and tradition of self-support destroyed, and who were now literally starving while the government broke its promises or tried to tie them to concessions. It tells us about local government officials, who could not agree among themselves whether the Indians should be treated with discipline or with food. It tells us about the frightened settlers and townspeople, caught between the Indians and the Métis they often sympathized with and the government they looked to for support. And it tells about the soldiers, who heroically set out to quell a rebellion, but whose greatest ordeal was the long train journey, on which they were beset by freezing cold and extreme shortages of food.

This book sparked national controversy when it was first published in 1983. Updated to include recent developments, such as native rights and land claims, the cultural mythology that surrounds Riel, and the recent campaign to have him pardoned.

"Jennifer Reid looks at the man known today as the founder of Manitoba. Not just a traditional biography, Reid examines Riel's education and religious beliefs."--[book jacket].