Socials 10: Trial of Louis Riel
"On 6 July 1885, a formal charge of treason was laid against Riel. On 20 July his trial began in Regina. Against Riel’s wishes, his counsel defended Riel on the grounds of insanity, pointing to the time he spent in asylums in the late 1870s. Riel, however, understood that by casting him as insane, his lawyers would discredit his people’s legitimate grievances against the Canadian government." (read more from The Canadian Encyclopedia)
General Resources
See List of books available at the RO Library
Recommended Websites
Canadian History Project: Manitoba Joins Confederation http://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1870/index.html
Canada a People's History: The Northwest Rebellion: http://www.cbc.ca/history/SECTIONSE1EP10CH4LE.html
Collections Canada, "Louis Riel." : http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-4000.61-e.html
Linder, Douglas, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law "Famous Trials: Louis Riel Trial 1885."
Metis Nation of Ontario, "Louis Riel"
University of Saskatchewan, "Northwest Resistance Digitization Project" http://library.usask.ca/northwest/
For the Witnesses:
Big Bear
Great Canadian Speeches. Selected and edited by Dennis Gruending. Call Number 815 GRE. Turn to page 65 to read Big Bear's speech after being found guilty of treason. Primary Source
The Temptations of Big Bear by Rudy Wiebe Call # WIE
Dumont, Gabriel
Gabriel Dumont Speaks translated by Michael Barnholden. Call Number 971.05 DUM. Turn to page 37 to read Dumont's personal account of the rebellion and events leading up to it. Primary Source
Gabriel Dumont by George Woodcock Call # 971.054 FUM WOO
MacDonald, John A.
Letter from Crozier to MacDonald detailing the meetings and resistance
Middleton, Major General Sir Frederick Dobson
The Battle of Batoche: British Small Warfare and the Entrenched Metis. Call #971.05 HIL
Battlefields of Canada by Mary Beacock Fryer Call # 971 FRY
Riel, Louis
Canadian Encyclopedia Online: Detailed biographical information about Riel. Includes primary sources at the bottom of the Louis Riel article, including a speech of Wilfred Laurier on the Riel Question.
Great Canadian Speeches, Words that Shaped a Nation edited by Brian Busby. Call# 815 GRE. See page 32 for Louis Riel's final statement in his treason trial 31 July, 1885. Primary Source
Great Canadian Speeches. Selected and edited by Dennis Gruending. Call # 815 GRE. See page 60 for Louis Riel's speech at his trial on the charge of high treason. Riel contends his people were attacked and claims the government of Canada did not have jurisdiction. Primary Source
Louis Riel A Life of Revolution by Maggie Siggins Call #.971.05 RIE SIG
"Louis Riel: Patriot or Rebel": An academic booklet published by the Canadian Historical Association
For the Defence:
Read Wilfred Laurier's Speech to the House of Commons, March 16, 1886 following the execution of Riel. Available in Great Canadian Speeches edited by Brian Busby. Call # 815 GRE. Laurier criticizes the government of Canada for its handling of the affairs of the North-West. Primary Source
General Resources
See List of books available at the RO Library
Recommended Websites
Canadian History Project: Manitoba Joins Confederation http://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1870/index.html
Canada a People's History: The Northwest Rebellion: http://www.cbc.ca/history/SECTIONSE1EP10CH4LE.html
Collections Canada, "Louis Riel." : http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-4000.61-e.html
Linder, Douglas, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law "Famous Trials: Louis Riel Trial 1885."
Metis Nation of Ontario, "Louis Riel"
University of Saskatchewan, "Northwest Resistance Digitization Project" http://library.usask.ca/northwest/
For the Witnesses:
Big Bear
Great Canadian Speeches. Selected and edited by Dennis Gruending. Call Number 815 GRE. Turn to page 65 to read Big Bear's speech after being found guilty of treason. Primary Source
The Temptations of Big Bear by Rudy Wiebe Call # WIE
Dumont, Gabriel
Gabriel Dumont Speaks translated by Michael Barnholden. Call Number 971.05 DUM. Turn to page 37 to read Dumont's personal account of the rebellion and events leading up to it. Primary Source
Gabriel Dumont by George Woodcock Call # 971.054 FUM WOO
MacDonald, John A.
Letter from Crozier to MacDonald detailing the meetings and resistance
Middleton, Major General Sir Frederick Dobson
The Battle of Batoche: British Small Warfare and the Entrenched Metis. Call #971.05 HIL
Battlefields of Canada by Mary Beacock Fryer Call # 971 FRY
Riel, Louis
Canadian Encyclopedia Online: Detailed biographical information about Riel. Includes primary sources at the bottom of the Louis Riel article, including a speech of Wilfred Laurier on the Riel Question.
Great Canadian Speeches, Words that Shaped a Nation edited by Brian Busby. Call# 815 GRE. See page 32 for Louis Riel's final statement in his treason trial 31 July, 1885. Primary Source
Great Canadian Speeches. Selected and edited by Dennis Gruending. Call # 815 GRE. See page 60 for Louis Riel's speech at his trial on the charge of high treason. Riel contends his people were attacked and claims the government of Canada did not have jurisdiction. Primary Source
Louis Riel A Life of Revolution by Maggie Siggins Call #.971.05 RIE SIG
"Louis Riel: Patriot or Rebel": An academic booklet published by the Canadian Historical Association
For the Defence:
Read Wilfred Laurier's Speech to the House of Commons, March 16, 1886 following the execution of Riel. Available in Great Canadian Speeches edited by Brian Busby. Call # 815 GRE. Laurier criticizes the government of Canada for its handling of the affairs of the North-West. Primary Source
Photo Credit: "Louis Riel Trial" by Douglas O. Linder
