Louis Riel (1844-1885)
Louis Riel was a Metis. The most known of them all. He was born in Saint-Boniface (now in Manitoba) in 1844. When Canada was formed in 1867, it decided to buy the Northwest Territories (where Manitoba was part) from the Hudson's Bay Company. When the tranfer was made in 1869, Riel was worried about his land and the land of all Metis people and began a rebellion against the Canadian Government. The rebellion failed and Louis Riel was forced to exile himself to the United States. He returned again in 1884, and started another rebellion. He was captured, tried and hung for Treason. He was, at the time, a hero for French Canada (Metis in Manitoba spoke French) and a traitor to English Canada. It was noticed during legislature when Prime Minister MacDonald fought against Riel, and Liberal leader Wilfrid Laurier defended him.
Tecumseh (1768?-1813)
Although he was born in the Ohio, Tecumseh is a hero for Canada, an enemy of the US. Tecumseh was chief of the Shawnee. Tecumseh started a confederation of Indian Nations to fight the Americans. When his brother was killed at Tippecanoe in 1811, the confederacy was disbanded. Tecumseh continued to fight the Americans, especially during the War of 1812. He fought along side of the British and was known for his courageous character. He was killed at the Battle of the Thames in 1813, possibly by a future Vice President of the US. Legend has it that he was buried at the site of the Battle of the Thames by Shawnee warriors.
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