Thanks Peter for another we bit of very interesting history that i learned in school but have long gone forgotten unfortunately, enjoy your journey sir
W O W !!! R U ever in my ol' neck-a-the-woods! I moved to Saskatoon in '81, met my man in '83 and raised 4 children all in those environs. YUP, bin there and done that many-a-times. I can even recall the haunting yet lovely theme song used throughout the visual they play for visitors. The fact is Louis Riel was a very talented man and very in demand. The situations that cornered him, methinks made him take himself too seriously...but a 'better man' may have fared even worse due to the pressure of those times. Any man is vulnerable and has weaknesses...we try to focus on the good any man has done and many celebrate just that on; 'Louis Riel Days'. This was a nice return to my past and I thank both Emperor Peter and his Empress Catherine, for a fine bit of 'wee history'. WELL DONE! "I have nothing but my heart and I have given it long ago to my country." (Louis Riel). Health and God Bless! :)
I had the privilege of seeing Jaws recently, and like that near perfect piece of film, Peter and Cathy, you've done us viewers a great service!!! Of not only documenting these landscapes, but providing a "wee bit of history" on top of the cinematic triumphs from about 4:38 to near the end... Keep on keepin' on, you wonderful canucks, and great tidings from Pennsylvania!!
Beautiful country. I love the church. Love the wood stove in middle. I can just imagine the people there and stove heating the church. So glad it was not burned. Thank you for another great history lesson.
Good grief! A woman on You Tube who grew up in New York state thought "Cajun" was the name of a spice. She'd never heard of the expulsioin of the Acadians from present day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick either. That armed aggression was let by the British in Massachusetts, but Americans made up a lot of the armed forces that shoved the Acadians out.
Thank you Peter. Another fantastic video. I enjoy watching these places you visit and the wee bit of history that comes with it. Western Canada the last frontier.
Hi Peter, Thanks for sharing the history and the beautiful views. I appreciate you putting this piece of Canadian history together for us! Take care friend👍
Thanks for the history (all new to me). Enjoy your adventure Cathy & Peter. We humans are a really peaceful & caring species eh!! Looking forward for our next 10,000 years.
Nice video, I'm Red River Metis from Manitoba Ojibwe-French, my family fought in the North West Resistance in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, I've heard many stories that was past down through the generations
The first Riel Rebellion occurred in the area around modern Winnipeg. The North West Rebellion or 2nd Riel Rebellion occurred in northern Saskatchewan. It's still a remote area today.
There is so much history that I know nothing about, thank you Peter for enlightening me about this fascinating period of which I am completely ignorant.
I started watching your videos a few days ago and love them. I saw this one and was quite excited as I grew up in Saskatchewan and been to Batoche. It sure is good hear your take and presentation on this story. Their was an old brick school somewhere in that area my grade school teacher converted to a museum, his name was Mr Possinikov, spelling probably off, but he taught the story, I hope his museum is still there. Growing up in Saskatoon, we had a holiday called Louie Riel Day, it was awesome. Anyhow I love your very well explained historic videos and adventures, thank you for making youtube a treasure to watch.
Should have more than a 'Like" , should make a " Love " symbol for your posts. Highly entertaining, educational and enjoyable, keep them coming, thanks.
Much of the time that Riel spent in "The States," was spent in N.E. North Dakota, near present-day Grand Forks. There had been a sizeable population of Meti living and hunting buffalo for years in that area. As a Yank in North Dakota and a living history enthusiast, I enjoyed your relating the Canadian side of the story. The scenery was beautiful.
Great video! I always found Riel and the Metis resistance a fascinating subject. I first learned of Louis Riel & the Metis as a child watching the old 1940 Gary Cooper film 'North West Mounted Police' back in the late 1960's/early 70's.
Thanks for the history lesson from up north. Beautiful country. Hope they get the fires out soon. We still have thick smoke down here in Pennsylvania. Have a good trip.
So glad and thanksfull the sash accompanies you guys on this trip. Caron's house hey... I'm gonna look into this and put it on my list of sites to visit! Hope the canoe trip goes dry and OK on this rapid river!
Brilliant sir...once again a very good CANADIAN history lesson...safe travel to your next destination. Have you run into any other like minded reinactors?
Appreciate your efforts and dedication. Thanks for sharing this bit of history. I wish more of the younger generation knew more about true history. We might not be looking at the future that confronts us at the moment if they did. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
Peter and Cathy hope all is well with you. Great video as always. Hope you are having a great time on your trip North be safe out on the river. Watch your six. IIByrds
Howdy Peter You weren't kidding ... the back drop is so beautiful . That church, the same church in the background when you were setting in the gun pit ? Is it still being used for preachin' ? Very interesting story Peter ..... Beautiful area .... even when it is cloudy !
These were not rebellions, they were resistances. Rebellion implies that Canada had jurisdiction over the territories, but that was not the case. We know this, because that transfer did not come into play until the Manitoba Act of 1870.
The Canadian government did buy the Hudson Bay Company lands just before the creation of the Province of Manitoba so I imagine Canada figured it could just roll over the "Indians" and the Métis much as the American government had rolled over resistance by American natives. There were, of course, Métis in the American West as well, but they were not organized as Canadian Métis were so they probably just became American whites or joined American Indian tribes on reservations.
The Northwest Rebellion of 1885 was 100% armed Rebellion and Civil War. They were traitors who wanted blood shed in and riels own words wanted to exterminate the white race.
@@dinkster1729 1.5 million dollars. With inflation that would equally about 50 million dollars. Does the HBC owe Western Canadians 50 million dollars in recompense? We were essentially sold to the Canadian government.
Great video, Peter. Those are the stomping grounds of my youth. Even back then, Riel and Gabriel Dumont were kind of childhood heroes to me. MacDonald needed to hang Riel in order to appease his Protestant base in Ontario if I recall correctly. Pure politics IMO. Your video brought back many pleasant memories
The first time I heard of Louis Riel and the Metis was in 1987 by reading about them in a Louis L'Amour book. He coverd the the trouble the Metis had with the Canadian government. Even though this was a book of fiction, the Sacketts spoke highly of him and his struggles.
Interesting Peter. Curious about the buffalo extinction in Canada at those times. Was it part of the same process that took part in the USA (killing the buffalo to dominate the first nations people) or was it any different? Is there any documentation about it in Canada that you might know (books, articles, experts etc...). Thanks for sharing. All the best!
Since the most common variety of buffalo were migratory animals that spent the winter in what we now think of as Mexico, extinction of the herds as they came north in spring would mean they did not get all the way to the Canadian prairies. Hope this helps.
@@archeanna1425 Before the butchery of the buffalo, the herds did migrate into Canada. The Métis were the killers of the buffalo and, then, they made the buffalo meat into pemmican and sold it to Hudson Bay Company employees. The Métis also went into the American west on their hunts with their famous Red River carts.
Thank you for bringing awareness of our history and culture as Métis people. Just a few points: It was a resistance, not a rebellion. The government ignored our rights and title to land (even MacDonald recognized this in 1869-1870). There was no effective government in the West, but Ottawa kept interfering with us trying to establish our own provisional government structures (such as the laws of St Laurent and the council established there, which specifically stated that it was to govern ourselves until such time as an effective government could be established) and kept ignoring our petitions. There was division among the Métis in 1885 about the provisional government and the armed resistance, but many did side with Riel. The resistance likely would have gone much differently had the Exovedate (the name of the provisional government in Batoche) listened to Dumont. Dumont wanted to fight a guerilla campaign on the prairies, but Riel called them back to Batoche. The early battles on the prairies had generally gone well for the Métis, both due to their fighting styles and their familiarity with the terrain. Batoche, it was too late with little chance to resupply. There is a story that says that part of the reason that the church wasn't destroyed was that when the priest talked with Middleton, he told him that the Métis were out of ammunition, and the final attack began shortly after that. Riel has never been exonerated. We don't want him pardoned either, because as far as we are concerned, he did nothing wrong (for either resistance or the execution of Scott by firing squad). I'm personally in favour of exonerating him. The last sash on the market at the mass grave was tied there last summer by Métis Nation - Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum during Back to Batoche Days.
@@waynebayer3144, we are legally recognized as an Indigenous people to what is now Canada and USA, and our rights and title are considered co-equal and distinct from First Nations. It's not uncommon for Indigenous nations to have overlapping territories. We predate settlers.
I worked at a Nature Conservancy ranch near Choteau, Montana and there was a Métis cemetery on the property that was carefully maintained our of respect for that culture. I was a history teacher for 33 years and had never encountered information about the Métis in conventional US History texts. Sadly, the curriculum of schools in the US largely ignores the history of Canada.
@@TheWoodlandEscape The Americans wouldn't like our interpretation of American/Canadian history. Americans want Americans to focus their attention on American history only. "Ex pluribus unum." From many one!
This may shock a lot of people, but when I had young children in the early 1980s, the Francophone school on the Kingston military base was called "Batoche". The other schools on the military base were called "Lundy's Lane" & "Niagara Park". The names commemorated battles that the Canadian military or its predecessor, the British army had participated in. The schools were named before the military became bilingual, I think.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Batoche was not originally the French (first) language school for the military. It became that community's school when the military introduced French (first language) schooling in 1973 or 1974. Now, 50 years later, the miitary sends its student to public-financed schools and pays their tuition and busing costs. The public elementary French language school is called Madeleine de Roybon. The Roman Catholic publicly financed elementary school is called Remi Gaulin after the first French-speaking Roman Catholic bishop of Kingston. The public high school is called Mille-Iles and the publicly financed Roman Catholic high school is called Marie Rivier who was a R.C. saint from France. The 2 high schools are side by side. I think the Batoche school building is now a centre for the military families living on the base. It's not longer a school. The Canadian military are oblivious to history. One of our favourite patirotic songs when I was in school was "The Maple Leaf Forever". No mention was made in it of French-speaking Canadians. The people of the British Isles were depicted in the imagery as being the conquerers and everybody else was ignored. I haven't heard that song in years.
Please mention moise oullette my great great grandfather who maarried gabriel dumonts sister louis riel lived with moise for YEARS and moise fought alongside gabriel and ended up in the states and had to be talked out of rescuing louis he was also mentioned in louis last letter
I read that Louis Riel Jr was the son of Louis Riel Sr. Both born in Canada and educated in France by Jesuit Priests. They spoke French, English, Native (likely Cree), Latin and both were educated, licensed Lawyers. The Canadian/British Government did not acknowledge any right, human nor land rights to the Metis (half breeds). They did not recognize them as a culture nor as an ethnic group. In 1823 Lord Selkirk of Scotland wanted to rid his land of tenants and the British Gov Granted the Red River Valley to him for the purpose of settling his tenants on. The fact that hundreds of Metis had been farming the Red River Valley since the early to late 1600s meant nothing to the British Gov and Surveyors and Gov Employees were sent to force the Metis off of the land they had been farming for generations so Lord Selkirk could settle his tenants in Canada - so he could clear his land in Scotland for raising sheep. He no longer had need of tenants. This of course was FREE LAND given to the Scots for leaving the land they had lived on for generations in Scotland and their homes were burned to the ground so they had nothing to return to, should they change their mind. There is a lot more to this story. I highly recommend researching this Criminal Act by the British and Canadian Leaders of the time. I have no Native blood. However, I do have Scottish blood and relatives that still live in the Red River Valley. I also lived for a time within 16 kms of Ft Carlton and Batoche. There is a Buffalo Jump on the West side of the River, a bit north of Batoche.
The father of the now famous Louis Riel was, indeed, also named "Louis Riel". He was a leader to the Métis. cf. "The Battle of Seven Oaks". However he was not educated in France and he was not a lawyer. Louis Riel, the leader of the Metis Resistance in Manitoba and the leader of the Northwest Resistance, was educated in a seminary in Montreal, but never became the priest he was supposed to become and instead, studied law in Montreal. He did, indeed, speak French, English, Cree or, possibly, Meschief (sp?), and probably read Latin and maybe, spoke it. He may even have studied a little Ancient Greek, I suppose. For his time, he was certainly well educated and teaching school when the North West Resistance broke out. He certainly was better educated than a lot of people in the new nation of Canada were.
This not was not a resistance or Rebellion. It was a protection of a life and way of life. I have many direct ancestors and relatives that participated in this protection of the Metis of 1885. Anyone who calls it a resistance or rebellion does not know Metis history.
Protection if you will, but this is indeed an armed resistance. The Métis might have done better if they had used the tactics of Martin Luther King though. However, modern media meant that the resistance to human rights abuses in the southern states would be documented in almost real time.
Living in Saskatchewan, it's still interesting hearing the history of Batoche. Sad that they hung him . Great video Peter and Kathy. Keep your powder dry
Yeah! My grandfather was born on a farm near Wellesley, Ontario in 1888 so he'd have been born just after the Riel Rebellion in Saskatchewan. The family was of German ancestry, though, so they probably weren't too enarmored of Macdonald's ideas on nation building. When the "Great War" broke out in Europe in 1914, the good people of Berlin, Ontario held a plesbiscite and Berlin, Ontario was subsequently renamed "Kitchener" after some British war hero, I guess. My great-uncle who lived in Kitchener had a calendar hung in his kitchen with the name "Berlin 1916" on it. I saw it in 1967. Was it just a curiosity or was it his silent rebuke that Kitchener, Ontario in an area with a large group of German families of which his was one, had once been Berlin, Ontario?
Of course, it isn't well known in Europe. It's a minor skirmish. Only 9 bodies in a mass grave! It's important in Canada because it shows how WASPs gained power in the Canadian West: by suppressing "little people" that they considered to be next to savages whose lands could be taken from them at gun point. "Might makes right!" Cf the creation of Israel in the British protectorate of Palestine among other settler colonialist enterprises.
I don't think the old black and white movie makers in the US knew what to think or how to portray Riel. Sometimes he was a semi good guy, sometimes the baddy. I guess it depended on whether Gary Cooper wanted to dress in buckskin or go all out in the scarlet jacket brimmed hat and high boots of the Royal Mounted Police. Thanks for the history lesson. Looks like you folks had your revolution too. I figure you maple leaf beavers have a lot to be proud of aside from all that beautiful land.
Before the Battle, the Govt ordered the Indian population into reserves, to prevent them from a lining with Reil. So, he didn't do Treaty Indianz any favors and now, those proud Metis have abandoned the Status, to begin a life of an Infian Status, where there is large claims being settled for cash. It's all about money, nothing else.
@@Scrumptious-b2q The pattern of that time period that was most common was the Assumption Sash. There were numerous other patterns and by this time period many were be loom made in England, replacing the hand weaving. By the mid 1800’s the sash was falling out of favor.
Louis Riel also thought he was a prophet and the second coming of Jesus. Funny how that's always left out. Guy was a nut. Hero in Manitoba though. What a joke
If you'd been treated like he was treated when the Upper Canadians took over in Manitoba, you might be a little off as well. He hid in a cave for days before escaping and returning to Quebec where he was hospitalized in a mental institution for a while. Remember that psychiatry was very primitive compared to what we have today. Just because he was off doesn't mean that he was not right.
Peter and Cathy hope all is well with you. Great video as always. Hope you are having a great time on your trip North be safe out on the river. Watch your six. IIByrds
Thanks Peter for another we bit of very interesting history that i learned in school but have long gone forgotten unfortunately, enjoy your journey sir
Glad you enjoyed it. We appreciate the well wishes.
Its an awesome place...👍😎🇨🇦
This was incredibly well done. I'm a descendant of some of the Metis at Batoche and Duck Lake. It was very cool seeing this.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed.
Absolutely fascinating wee bit of history, Peter. Thank you so much!
Glad you enjoyed it
W O W !!! R U ever in my ol' neck-a-the-woods! I moved to Saskatoon in '81, met my man in '83 and raised 4 children all in those environs. YUP, bin there and done that many-a-times. I can even recall the haunting yet lovely theme song used throughout the visual they play for visitors. The fact is Louis Riel was a very talented man and very in demand. The situations that cornered him, methinks made him take himself too seriously...but a 'better man' may have fared even worse due to the pressure of those times. Any man is vulnerable and has weaknesses...we try to focus on the good any man has done and many celebrate just that on; 'Louis Riel Days'. This was a nice return to my past and I thank both Emperor Peter and his Empress Catherine, for a fine bit of 'wee history'. WELL DONE! "I have nothing but my heart and I have given it long ago to my country." (Louis Riel). Health and God Bless! :)
I do believe he made that statement while in prison waiting execution. Cathy and I just got into Dawson City paddling from Whitehorse.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Thanks 4 the update on your journey! May each pull of your paddle, bring new wonders 2 your pioneer spirit(s)! :)
I had the privilege of seeing Jaws recently, and like that near perfect piece of film, Peter and Cathy, you've done us viewers a great service!!! Of not only documenting these landscapes, but providing a "wee bit of history" on top of the cinematic triumphs from about 4:38 to near the end... Keep on keepin' on, you wonderful canucks, and great tidings from Pennsylvania!!
Flattered Dave, thanks so much.
Thank you, Mr. Peter. Once again, what a beautiful place and such amazing history to go with it. Safe travels!
Many thanks!
Good story! Beautiful spot! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it
Great history and presentation.
Glad you enjoyed it
Beautiful country. I love the church. Love the wood stove in middle. I can just imagine the people there and stove heating the church. So glad it was not burned. Thank you for another great history lesson.
It is a very lovely structure indeed.
This is fascinating history.
I totally agree.
I love these historical accounts. I could listen all day.
I’m glad that you’re enjoying.
Excellent Peter. Sad we never hear about this in the eastern states. Love to learn new history. Thank you
Glad you liked it.
Good grief! A woman on You Tube who grew up in New York state thought "Cajun" was the name of a spice. She'd never heard of the expulsioin of the Acadians from present day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick either. That armed aggression was let by the British in Massachusetts, but Americans made up a lot of the armed forces that shoved the Acadians out.
Beautiful country with an interesting story. I would love to sit around a fire in the fall and listen to your stories of the past. Blessings.
Sounds great, Kathy, you would be very welcomed at our fire.
I would be pleased to have you at ours too
Like Wm Faulkner said, "The past is not even past." The Northwest Resistance continues today.
Good evening from Syracuse NY USA brother and everyone else
Thanks Earl.
You are welcome brother
You’ve got such a beautiful way of presenting these excellent history lessons. Thank you for every one of your videos.
So nice of you to say.
Another good one! I learn so much from your channel
Glad to hear it!
Thank you Peter. Another fantastic video. I enjoy watching these places you visit and the wee bit of history that comes with it. Western Canada the last frontier.
Many thanks
Hi Peter, Thanks for sharing the history and the beautiful views. I appreciate you putting this piece of Canadian history together for us! Take care friend👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for the history (all new to me). Enjoy your adventure Cathy & Peter.
We humans are a really peaceful & caring species eh!!
Looking forward for our next 10,000 years.
Well said!
Thanks for sharing that bit of history, it's much appreciated!
Our pleasure!
Nice video, I'm Red River Metis from Manitoba Ojibwe-French, my family fought in the North West Resistance in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, I've heard many stories that was past down through the generations
Very cool!
The first Riel Rebellion occurred in the area around modern Winnipeg. The North West Rebellion or 2nd Riel Rebellion occurred in northern Saskatchewan. It's still a remote area today.
Nice discussion and lovely photography
Thank you kindly!
There is so much history that I know nothing about, thank you Peter for enlightening me about this fascinating period of which I am completely ignorant.
Glad you got something out of it.
Interesting history lesson. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Glad you enjoyed it
I started watching your videos a few days ago and love them. I saw this one and was quite excited as I grew up in Saskatchewan and been to Batoche. It sure is good hear your take and presentation on this story. Their was an old brick school somewhere in that area my grade school teacher converted to a museum, his name was Mr Possinikov, spelling probably off, but he taught the story, I hope his museum is still there. Growing up in Saskatoon, we had a holiday called Louie Riel Day, it was awesome. Anyhow I love your very well explained historic videos and adventures, thank you for making youtube a treasure to watch.
You certainly grew up in a beautiful province,on our next trip I’m going to make sure and try and find that museum that would be find for sure!
Thank you for another great piece of history!
Our pleasure!
Would like to thank the both of you for a fine bit of Canadian history.👍
Our pleasure, Richard.
Should have more than a 'Like" , should make a " Love " symbol for your posts. Highly entertaining, educational and enjoyable, keep them coming, thanks.
Wow, thank you!
Thanks for the video Peter and Cathy.
This is the best field trip ever. Glad you are sharing it with us. Looking forward to more. Continued best of luck in your travels.
Thanks so much!
Much of the time that Riel spent in "The States," was spent in N.E. North Dakota, near present-day Grand Forks. There had been a sizeable population of Meti living and hunting buffalo for years in that area. As a Yank in North Dakota and a living history enthusiast, I enjoyed your relating the Canadian side of the story. The scenery was beautiful.
Thank you for the kind words. I also love your scenery in ND … so completely different than ours.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Where's "ours"? Actually, this part of Saskatchewan looks pastoral.
@@dinkster1729 It is indeed.
Great video!
I always found Riel and the Metis resistance a fascinating subject.
I first learned of Louis Riel & the Metis as a child watching the old 1940 Gary Cooper film 'North West Mounted Police' back in the late 1960's/early 70's.
Thank you.
Peter, as always, a fascinating subject with a excellent video
Many thanks!
Wow, just wow...
Thank you.
Thanks. Well done and fascinating for this ex-Winnipeger who left Manitoba in 1980.
Glad you enjoyed it
A wee bit of history most of us yanks were not aware of! Thank you for taking the time to share!
Glad you enjoyed.
Interesting indeed! Fun learning Canadian History we aren’t taught it here much in the U.S. Canada has certainly had its great leaders and Patriots
We do have a colorful history that sadly most Americans aren’t taught
amazing episode
Thank you kindly.
Thanks for the history lesson from up north. Beautiful country. Hope they get the fires out soon. We still have thick smoke down here in Pennsylvania. Have a good trip.
So glad and thanksfull the sash accompanies you guys on this trip. Caron's house hey... I'm gonna look into this and put it on my list of sites to visit! Hope the canoe trip goes dry and OK on this rapid river!
We just paddled into Dawson City tonight at 8.
Riel is my cousin thru Lajimodiere/Lagimodiere ......Lafluer is also my family name were from Duck lake
A sad an fascinating history you have in you lineage.
he is our hero, we feel homage to him n his family, god bless
Brilliant sir...once again a very good CANADIAN history lesson...safe travel to your next destination. Have you run into any other like minded reinactors?
Not yet!
Appreciate your efforts and dedication. Thanks for sharing this bit of history. I wish more of the younger generation knew more about true history. We might not be looking at the future that confronts us at the moment if they did. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
Indeed, history is sadly lacking … it doesn’t have to be that mandatory boring subject.
Peter and Cathy hope all is well with you. Great video as always. Hope you are having a great time on your trip North be safe out on the river. Watch your six. IIByrds
Very interesting story!
Glad you enjoyed it
Could you talk more about the mantis aging thank you for another great video
We might down the road a bit. Glad you liked it.
Howdy Peter
You weren't kidding ... the back drop is so beautiful .
That church, the same church in the background when you were setting in the gun pit ?
Is it still being used for preachin' ?
Very interesting story Peter ..... Beautiful area .... even when it is cloudy !
Not regular services but the week before we filmed a wedding was performed there.
These were not rebellions, they were resistances. Rebellion implies that Canada had jurisdiction over the territories, but that was not the case. We know this, because that transfer did not come into play until the Manitoba Act of 1870.
Your absolutely correct.
The Canadian government did buy the Hudson Bay Company lands just before the creation of the Province of Manitoba so I imagine Canada figured it could just roll over the "Indians" and the Métis much as the American government had rolled over resistance by American natives. There were, of course, Métis in the American West as well, but they were not organized as Canadian Métis were so they probably just became American whites or joined American Indian tribes on reservations.
The Northwest Rebellion of 1885 was 100% armed Rebellion and Civil War. They were traitors who wanted blood shed in and riels own words wanted to exterminate the white race.
@@dinkster1729 1.5 million dollars. With inflation that would equally about 50 million dollars. Does the HBC owe Western Canadians 50 million dollars in recompense? We were essentially sold to the Canadian government.
Great video, Peter. Those are the stomping grounds of my youth. Even back then, Riel and Gabriel Dumont were kind of childhood heroes to me. MacDonald needed to hang Riel in order to appease his Protestant base in Ontario if I recall correctly. Pure politics IMO.
Your video brought back many pleasant memories
It pleases me when someone’s memories are tweaked by our endeavors. Cathy and I just paddled into Dawson City tonight at 8 pm.
The first time I heard of Louis Riel and the Metis was in 1987 by reading about them in a Louis L'Amour book. He coverd the the trouble the Metis had with the Canadian government. Even though this was a book of fiction, the Sacketts spoke highly of him and his struggles.
He fought for a very just cause.
Interesting Peter. Curious about the buffalo extinction in Canada at those times. Was it part of the same process that took part in the USA (killing the buffalo to dominate the first nations people) or was it any different? Is there any documentation about it in Canada that you might know (books, articles, experts etc...). Thanks for sharing. All the best!
Since the most common variety of buffalo were migratory animals that spent the winter in what we now think of as Mexico, extinction of the herds as they came north in spring would mean they did not get all the way to the Canadian prairies. Hope this helps.
@@archeanna1425 It make sense. Thanks
@@archeanna1425 Before the butchery of the buffalo, the herds did migrate into Canada. The Métis were the killers of the buffalo and, then, they made the buffalo meat into pemmican and sold it to Hudson Bay Company employees. The Métis also went into the American west on their hunts with their famous Red River carts.
Thank you for bringing awareness of our history and culture as Métis people. Just a few points:
It was a resistance, not a rebellion. The government ignored our rights and title to land (even MacDonald recognized this in 1869-1870). There was no effective government in the West, but Ottawa kept interfering with us trying to establish our own provisional government structures (such as the laws of St Laurent and the council established there, which specifically stated that it was to govern ourselves until such time as an effective government could be established) and kept ignoring our petitions. There was division among the Métis in 1885 about the provisional government and the armed resistance, but many did side with Riel.
The resistance likely would have gone much differently had the Exovedate (the name of the provisional government in Batoche) listened to Dumont. Dumont wanted to fight a guerilla campaign on the prairies, but Riel called them back to Batoche. The early battles on the prairies had generally gone well for the Métis, both due to their fighting styles and their familiarity with the terrain. Batoche, it was too late with little chance to resupply.
There is a story that says that part of the reason that the church wasn't destroyed was that when the priest talked with Middleton, he told him that the Métis were out of ammunition, and the final attack began shortly after that.
Riel has never been exonerated. We don't want him pardoned either, because as far as we are concerned, he did nothing wrong (for either resistance or the execution of Scott by firing squad). I'm personally in favour of exonerating him.
The last sash on the market at the mass grave was tied there last summer by Métis Nation - Saskatchewan President Glen McCallum during Back to Batoche Days.
not your lands belong t first nations, settlers were here before metis. metis have no ands
@@waynebayer3144, we are legally recognized as an Indigenous people to what is now Canada and USA, and our rights and title are considered co-equal and distinct from First Nations. It's not uncommon for Indigenous nations to have overlapping territories. We predate settlers.
Very informative, Adam, thanks for sharing.
He well always and forever be remembered
Indeed, as he should!
I worked at a Nature Conservancy ranch near Choteau, Montana and there was a Métis cemetery on the property that was carefully maintained our of respect for that culture. I was a history teacher for 33 years and had never encountered information about the Métis in conventional US History texts. Sadly, the curriculum of schools in the US largely ignores the history of Canada.
It is indeed sad that our rich history is not taught in America.
@@TheWoodlandEscape The Americans wouldn't like our interpretation of American/Canadian history. Americans want Americans to focus their attention on American history only. "Ex pluribus unum." From many one!
Are any of the wild fires close to your home? Thinking of you every time I hear about them.
Don’t know. We are on the opposite side of the country heading to the Arctic Ocean. Currently in the Yukon. Pretty sure we’re ok back home.
One never knows maybe at some point here in modern America we may be doing the same thing. Fighting for god-given right to exist.
This may shock a lot of people, but when I had young children in the early 1980s, the Francophone school on the Kingston military base was called "Batoche". The other schools on the military base were called "Lundy's Lane" & "Niagara Park". The names commemorated battles that the Canadian military or its predecessor, the British army had participated in. The schools were named before the military became bilingual, I think.
Interesting, thanks for sharing. We live about an hour from Kingston and I was unaware.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Batoche was not originally the French (first) language school for the military. It became that community's school when the military introduced French (first language) schooling in 1973 or 1974. Now, 50 years later, the miitary sends its student to public-financed schools and pays their tuition and busing costs. The public elementary French language school is called Madeleine de Roybon. The Roman Catholic publicly financed elementary school is called Remi Gaulin after the first French-speaking Roman Catholic bishop of Kingston. The public high school is called Mille-Iles and the publicly financed Roman Catholic high school is called Marie Rivier who was a R.C. saint from France. The 2 high schools are side by side. I think the Batoche school building is now a centre for the military families living on the base. It's not longer a school. The Canadian military are oblivious to history. One of our favourite patirotic songs when I was in school was "The Maple Leaf Forever". No mention was made in it of French-speaking Canadians. The people of the British Isles were depicted in the imagery as being the conquerers and everybody else was ignored. I haven't heard that song in years.
Please mention moise oullette my great great grandfather who maarried gabriel dumonts sister louis riel lived with moise for YEARS and moise fought alongside gabriel and ended up in the states and had to be talked out of rescuing louis he was also mentioned in louis last letter
Fascinating history in your family.
this is 10 miles from my home.
You live in very pretty part of Canada.
I read that Louis Riel Jr was the son of Louis Riel Sr. Both born in Canada and educated in France by Jesuit Priests. They spoke French, English, Native (likely Cree), Latin and both were educated, licensed Lawyers. The Canadian/British Government did not acknowledge any right, human nor land rights to the Metis (half breeds). They did not recognize them as a culture nor as an ethnic group. In 1823 Lord Selkirk of Scotland wanted to rid his land of tenants and the British Gov Granted the Red River Valley to him for the purpose of settling his tenants on. The fact that hundreds of Metis had been farming the Red River Valley since the early to late 1600s meant nothing to the British Gov and Surveyors and Gov Employees were sent to force the Metis off of the land they had been farming for generations so Lord Selkirk could settle his tenants in Canada - so he could clear his land in Scotland for raising sheep. He no longer had need of tenants. This of course was FREE LAND given to the Scots for leaving the land they had lived on for generations in Scotland and their homes were burned to the ground so they had nothing to return to, should they change their mind. There is a lot more to this story. I highly recommend researching this Criminal Act by the British and Canadian Leaders of the time. I have no Native blood. However, I do have Scottish blood and relatives that still live in the Red River Valley. I also lived for a time within 16 kms of Ft Carlton and Batoche. There is a Buffalo Jump on the West side of the River, a bit north of Batoche.
There is indeed a whole lot more than my wee bit of history to this both fascinating and sad part of Canadian history.
The father of the now famous Louis Riel was, indeed, also named "Louis Riel". He was a leader to the Métis. cf. "The Battle of Seven Oaks". However he was not educated in France and he was not a lawyer. Louis Riel, the leader of the Metis Resistance in Manitoba and the leader of the Northwest Resistance, was educated in a seminary in Montreal, but never became the priest he was supposed to become and instead, studied law in Montreal. He did, indeed, speak French, English, Cree or, possibly, Meschief (sp?), and probably read Latin and maybe, spoke it. He may even have studied a little Ancient Greek, I suppose. For his time, he was certainly well educated and teaching school when the North West Resistance broke out. He certainly was better educated than a lot of people in the new nation of Canada were.
This not was not a resistance or Rebellion. It was a protection of a life and way of life. I have many direct ancestors and relatives that participated in this protection of the Metis of 1885. Anyone who calls it a resistance or rebellion does not know Metis history.
Good point, I appreciate your feedback.
Protection if you will, but this is indeed an armed resistance. The Métis might have done better if they had used the tactics of Martin Luther King though. However, modern media meant that the resistance to human rights abuses in the southern states would be documented in almost real time.
Living in Saskatchewan, it's still interesting hearing the history of Batoche. Sad that they hung him . Great video Peter and Kathy. Keep your powder dry
Glad you enjoyed it, Lance … watch yer top knot.
Thomas Scott ?
March 4th 1870, executed at Fort Garry by firing squad. Riel might very well been saved from the gallows had he not ordered the execution .
Not Scotty Thomas it is Thomas scott
@@TheWoodlandEscape I thought you said in the video he was hung and read a poem about it?
@@dinkster1729 he was indeed
My grandmas were born near the end of 1800’s
I can imagine my grandmas lives in Ohio.
Yeah! My grandfather was born on a farm near Wellesley, Ontario in 1888 so he'd have been born just after the Riel Rebellion in Saskatchewan. The family was of German ancestry, though, so they probably weren't too enarmored of Macdonald's ideas on nation building. When the "Great War" broke out in Europe in 1914, the good people of Berlin, Ontario held a plesbiscite and Berlin, Ontario was subsequently renamed "Kitchener" after some British war hero, I guess. My great-uncle who lived in Kitchener had a calendar hung in his kitchen with the name "Berlin 1916" on it. I saw it in 1967. Was it just a curiosity or was it his silent rebuke that Kitchener, Ontario in an area with a large group of German families of which his was one, had once been Berlin, Ontario?
Great video. This conflict is not known here in Europe. Interesting informations. 👍
Thanks Mark.
Of course, it isn't well known in Europe. It's a minor skirmish. Only 9 bodies in a mass grave! It's important in Canada because it shows how WASPs gained power in the Canadian West: by suppressing "little people" that they considered to be next to savages whose lands could be taken from them at gun point. "Might makes right!" Cf the creation of Israel in the British protectorate of Palestine among other settler colonialist enterprises.
A few errors, but a good short narration.
Thank you
I love sushi
Same!
I don't think the old black and white movie makers in the US knew what to think or how to portray Riel. Sometimes he was a semi good guy, sometimes the baddy. I guess it depended on whether Gary Cooper wanted to dress in buckskin or go all out in the scarlet jacket brimmed hat and high boots of the Royal Mounted Police. Thanks for the history lesson. Looks like you folks had your revolution too. I figure you maple leaf beavers have a lot to be proud of aside from all that beautiful land.
We do indeed!
Rebellion!
Worried about you. How are the fires.
We’re in the Yukon Territory now and there are very few fires.
This was fascinating! Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Not rebellion-- RESISTENCE! Us Métis were living our lives and Canada pulled up wanting something for nothing.
Good point.
Just one thing. Riel was hung on NOVEMBER 16TH 1885...maybe do some sort of correction...just sayin'!!!🙂🇨🇦
Appreciate the correction.
North Battleford of Wiki mentions nothing of Louis Riel. It is laced with hate.
You’re spot on.
they had no land base
We Métis do have a historic homeland and land base that is legally recognized.
Before the Battle, the Govt ordered the Indian population into reserves, to prevent them from a lining with Reil. So, he didn't do Treaty Indianz any favors and now, those proud Metis have abandoned the Status, to begin a life of an Infian Status, where there is large claims being settled for cash. It's all about money, nothing else.
Thanks for sharing your perception.
Your sash must be a reproduction of the sash of the Metis in that area. Today the Metis Nation of Ontario have a universal sash for their citizens.
It is indeed the pattern of that time and place and the colours are historically correct.
@@Scrumptious-b2q The pattern of that time period that was most common was the Assumption Sash. There were numerous other patterns and by this time period many were be loom made in England, replacing the hand weaving. By the mid 1800’s the sash was falling out of favor.
There was a lot of that going around in North America. Some cases were justified and others weren't depending on you're view point.
Modern minds would not view the way the North, Central and Central American states were established kindly, would it?
anishnabe lands not metis, they came after the settlers
Our Métis Homeland overlaps with far more than the Anishinaabe.
Louis Riel also thought he was a prophet and the second coming of Jesus. Funny how that's always left out. Guy was a nut. Hero in Manitoba though. What a joke
He did have mental illness issues but, he did stand for a worthy cause.
If you'd been treated like he was treated when the Upper Canadians took over in Manitoba, you might be a little off as well. He hid in a cave for days before escaping and returning to Quebec where he was hospitalized in a mental institution for a while. Remember that psychiatry was very primitive compared to what we have today. Just because he was off doesn't mean that he was not right.
Peter and Cathy hope all is well with you. Great video as always. Hope you are having a great time on your trip North be safe out on the river. Watch your six. IIByrds
Just got off the Yukon River today… 16 days in total, 750 km.