Some call Louis Riel a madman, others call him a saviour, but what he actually was lies somewhere in between. Louis Riel killed people who didn’t believe in what he did, but he didn’t try to conquer other people’s land. To colonizers, he seemed like a murderer who wanted to kill Europeans, and the Métis people just saw him as someone who was going to save them from the evil of Europe. That’s the whole idea of Louis Riel; he wasn’t trying to be a hero; he was trying to be what his people needed to survive.

The first controversial act Louis Riel committed was repelling prospectors from a Métis farm. Not long after that, Riel and other Métis rebels took control of Fort Garry. They used this bargaining chip to try and negotiate with the Canadian government. Some colonists tried to take back Fort Garry but failed. Not only did they get caught, but it ended up with the execution of Thomas Scott. With all these actions, Louis Riel was seen more as a terrorist than a rebel. After an agreement was made, Louis Riel fled to America, but he didn’t stay long. He was summoned back to help the Métis again. This led to many different battles between the Canadian Army and the Métis rebels. Having Louis Riel as a military figure portrayed him as not only a terrorist but also a threat to Canada as a whole. There was no chance Riel would have been able to conquer Canada, but it doesn’t matter was is possible, just what conclusions people can jump to.

Louis Riel was executed for high treason and wasn’t seen as a hero until many years later. Even if he is largely regarded as a hero today, some people still think he was a mad man. Statues like Lemay’s in Winnipeg is a perfect example of that, with him looking weak and disfigured. It is easy to see his bones in the statue and an empty cave instead of a stomach. All these aspects of the sculpture show that the sculptor didn’t think highly of Riel. There are also statues like Joyal’s at the Manitoba Legislature that show to general thought on Riel in current times. He is wearing formal clothes and has a noble posture. Heritage Minutes did a short film about what was going through his head when he was about to die. This is one of, if not the best, way to see how someone thinks of Riel. There is no way to know what Riel was actually thinking so it’s up to the creator to choose what he thinks. The first thing he thinks about in the film is forgiving his executors. Choosing to have Louis Riel reflect on his actions, and think about others, gives the perspective of Louis Riel being selfless, and someone who wants to see the Métis thrive. With more awareness being brought to human rights, people are starting to view Louis Riel as a freedom fighter rather than a weak, frail man.