LOUIS RIEL, LEADER OF THE METIS PEOPLE
HISTORY OF THE LEADER
Louis Riel - son of Louis Riel + Julie Lagimodiere
- b. 1844-10-22 St-Boniface, MB
- d. 1885-11-16 Regina, SK
buried in St-Boniface, MB by his maternal grand-mother, Marie-Anne Gaboury
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The political activities sof Louis Riel will not be discussed in this book. The librarie are filled with books, describing the military feats. The reader interested in his loss of mental equilibrium of his co-called new religion may consult THOMAS FLANAGAN: LOUIS RIEL, PROPHET OF THE NEW WORLD printed in Toronto 1978, or other texts. Here we will proceed with his family history.
In 1812, Jean-Baptiste Riel, Louis' grandfather, married Marguerite Boucher, a Métis born in Fort Chipwyan,
Their son, Louis VI, was born at Ile à la Crosse, SK on July 7, 1817. On January 21, 1844 he married Julie Lagimodière of St-Boniface, MB. Louis VI died on January 21 1864
Louis VI and Juilie Lagimodière
Louis and Julie had eleven children: Louis VII, Elie, Philomène, Sara. Marie, Octavie, Eualie, Charles, Joseph, Henriette, Alexandre. We shall write only about Louis Sara, Joseph and Henriette.
Louis VII known here are "Riel" was was born October 22, 1844, the same year as Louis Schmidt.
On April 28, 1881, he married Marguerite Monet Bellehumeur in Dakota. The following year, Father Damiani blessed their marriage at Saint Pierre Mission, Montana on March 9, 1882. Louis and Marguerite had three children.
After the defeat of the Métis at Batoche, Louis Riel, was judged, condemned and eventually executed in Regina on November 16, 1885. His body was taken to Saint Boniface on December 9th, 1885.
Riel's Conduct before this Execution.
Compared to the judges who looked very much out of place during the trial, Riel's conduct was wonderful. Instead of trying to escape, he preferred to accept his death in reparation for his errors. He retracted all that he had said contrary to the doctrines of the Catholic faith, and as a true, contrite Christrian, he asked pardon for all the scandal he had given.
His mother and his brother Alexandre visited him in prison. His wife, Marguerite, broken-hearted, sick in St.Boniface hospital could not visit him. Her third child, a baby boy, died a few hours after birth.
In his testament, Louis thank his "good and kind mother" for her unfailing love for him. He also thanked his Marguerite his wife, for her kindness, her patience and asked her pardon for any sorrow he might have caused her. To this children, Jean (2 years) Marie Angélique (1 year) he wrote: " I do not leave you gold or
silver, but for you, my dear children, I offer the sacrifice of my life, and I bless you!" His desire was that his children be brought up firmly and simply so as to enter the "Kingdon of God". He gave this, his last will to Father André, whom he loved dearly.
Before going to the scaffold, he said to Father André "Father bless me", and he accepted that he called ther "Ways of Providence". He was pale, but seeing that Father André was very upset he said. "Courage Father!" He thanked Dr. Jukes who accompagnied him. They shook hands. At this moment the hangman put the rope around his neck. Father McWilliams presented a crucifix. Riel kissed it. Father André wept. "I believe in God" said Riel -- these were his last words.
Edified by such an example, both Big Bear and Poundmaker became converts to the Catholic Faith.
Sara Riel was born on August 10th, 1848, She became Sister Marguerite Marie of the Grey Nuns, on February 6, 1868. In 1883, fire destroyed the convent at Ile à la Crosse. where she was stationed. She died trying to save the young boarders. She was thirty-five years old. Her grave ia a short distance from the Hospital.
Henriette Riel was born Julyh 27, 1861. She visited her brother Louis durin his exile in Montana. He composed a song of welcome for her. It is written in French and cannot be translated, literally. Here it is in prose "Henriette when I left you in early Spring you were only fifteen years old. Tell me about my friends, their struggles and their sorrows. They are the people of my heart. I goes to the border and dream of my relatives and friends in Saint-Vital. He names Normand Gingras. Darling you have come to me and my heart goes to you. I llove you dearly, Henriette. I love your figure. your features,your gait, your simple hair-do, your "métis ways". To me you are a moonlight night, a sunset on a calrm evening. Your voice is sweeter that the "music of the deep woods. "
Now go back home, Henriette, back to our dear Manitoba; tell our friends how lonely I am in Montana."
Joseph Riel born February 5, 1857, married Eleonore Poitras of Saint Boniface on April 20, 1884. When the body of his brother Louis was transferred to Saint-Boniface from Regina, where he had been buried after his execution. Joseph was there.
Act of Louis' burial: December 12, 1885, we the undersigned Parish Priest, Father A. Dugas, of St-Boniface, have buried in the cemetery of this parish, the body of Louis Riel, husband of Marguerite Monet-Bellehumeur, age 41 years, who died at Regina, Capital of the North West, last November 16, buried at first at place place of death, then transported to St-Boniface, according to the last wishes, of the deceased. Were present Joseph Riel , Benjamin Naud and a large number of citizens.
The Children of Louis and Marguerite Riel: Their three children were Jean, Angélique and a little boy who lived only a few hours.
Angélique born in 1883, died of pleurisy in 1897 at the age of 13.
Jean was born in Dakota on August 4th, 1882. He wemt to the Normal School in Montréal and later became a Civil engineer. On March 25, 1908 he married Laura Cassault. They had no children. Jean died in atraffic accident (horse and buggy) on July 31 1908 at the age of twenty-six.
Four years after his death, Laura his widow married Ernest Nadeau at Notre-Dame, Québec
Marguerite Riel (Nee Monet Bellehumeur) Marguerite's father Jean Monet had married and Indian girl. They lived happily in Montana with their daughter, Marguerite who was very attractive and very kind. She could speak French and English but could neither read nor write.
One day, Louis Riel, who was on a hunting expedition, stopped at Jean Monet's and saw Marguerite for the first time. It was love at first sight. He courted her and eventually married her on March 6th, 1882
Their married life was quite short. Louis loved his wife very dearly, and respected her at all times. but he was very poor. As a teacher in Montana he did not make much money. Wages were low then. Because of that, Marguerite had to work hard, splitting wood, and keeping house as she raised her family. When she learned that her husband was condemned, she took it so hard that she lost the baby she was carrying. Her little son died a few hours after his birth,leaving her heart-broken and sick. Grandma Riel took Marguerite to her own home in Saint-Vital, but the shock had been so hard that she did not recover from her emotions and the death of her husband. She did not live long after Louis was executed.
ref: from History of St-Louis and surrounding areas - pages 12 and 13
No comments:
Post a Comment