Song Lyrics Explanation: "Louis Louis Riel"

Song by Shawna Audet and The Overlanders

Verse 1 - The Red River area (now Winnipeg) was the site of the Métis Resistance in 1870. John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, wanted to expand the nation. He dreamed of making a country that went from sea to sea. He thought that he would start his expansion plans with Manitoba. Unfortunately, he did not ask the Métis (the vast majority of the people) who were living there at the time. Macdonald sent surveyors to make maps of the Red River area. The Métis were upset because their long rectangular river lots did not fit into the government's square lot system. The Métis were afraid that they were going to lose sections of their lands.

Verse 2 - William McDougall was appointed by Macdonald to be the first governor of Manitoba. Unfortunately, he tried to enter the area before he was officially supposed to take over. The Métis (under the direction of Louis Riel) turned McDougall back at the border. They made a list of the rights that the Métis wanted and they sent the list to Macdonald.

Verse 3 - Riel set up a provisional government at Fort Garry. Riel's greatest ally was Gabriel Dumont. Dumont was a great Métis leader. He had the respect of the Métis people. Riel was the thinker and Dumont held the hearts of the Métis people. They were a great team. Thomas Scott was an obnoxious English surveyor. He was outraged when the Métis took charge of the fort and he threatened to kill Riel. As a result, he was shot by a Métis firing squad. Riel did not want to kill Scott, but he submitted to the will of the Métis people.

Verse 4 The English speaking people of Ontario saw Riel as a murderer. The French speaking people of Quebec saw Riel as a hero.