Re: “Province flies the flag for Louis Riel,” Nov. 17.
I was disappointed to see the poor choice of wording in the article on Louis Riel Day.
Stating “his rebellious response escalated into the North-West Rebellion” is akin to describing Martin Luther King as “rebellious.” I can assure you that people within the Métis community look on Riel with much higher esteem than that choice of word, an obvious colonial label that clearly diminishes his impact on the Métis people and his accurate place in Canadian history.
Furthermore, Riel was a leader for all Métis people (as the flag alludes, offspring of First Nation and European parents) not just francophones (granted, a dominant group within the Métis people). I would suggest on this day, it is hardly a small point.
Last, the article suggests the French people felt “alienated” as a result of Crown action. A more accurate description would be to say the Métis, including those of French descent, felt deceived and persecuted as a result of the Crown’s actions, sentiments that have never left Indigenous communities while we try to embrace reconciliation.
I am hopeful this one day a year, we can improve our knowledge of this federally recognized Indigenous group and improve sensitivity around the complexity of Riel’s role in recognition of Métis people.
The article got one thing right: There are 90,000 self identified Métis people in this province. If you are not of Métis descent, your neighbour, friend or co-worker is.
Kevin Stewart
Director
Métis Nation of Greater Victoria
