Manitoba honors controversial Riel with new statue

Prominent People

Guide to Indian Country Page 12

Louis Riel is one of the most controversial figures in Canadian

history. The Metis leader has been described as a rebel, a murderer, a

traitor, a religious fanatic and a lunatic. On May 12, however, he was

celebrated as the leader of a proud people, a statesman and a father of

confederation, with the unveiling of a mammoth statue dedicated to the

man and his accomplishments.

Hundreds of spectators braved unseasonably cool, overcast weather to

witness the event, held on Manitoba's 116th birthday. The Manitoba Act

received royal assent on July 15, 1870 to officially create Canada's

fifth province.

Lt. Gov. Yvon Dumont, the first Metis to hold the position of

lieutenant-governor, said the ceremony establishes Riel's status as

Manitoba's founder.

"Today we hold our heads higher."

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy told the crowd that Riel was a

father of Confederation for all Canadians.

The $300,000 bronze statue is located on the south side of the

legislative grounds, on the shores of the historic Assiniboine River. It

replaces the controversial Marcien Lemay sculpture that stood for 24

years on the same spot. The impressionistic-style statue depicted the

Metis leader in the nude, with a contorted, tortured appearance.

For many years Metis leaders lobbied the Manitoba government to have

the statue replaced. It was described as a grotesque abomination and an

insult to the memory of the leader and to the Metis people.

The new monument, created by Miguel Joyal, depicts Riel in a

conventional heroic pose, with a scroll representing the Manitoba Act

clutched assertively in his left hand. The figure is dressed in the

clothing of the era, but is wearing moccasins to reinforce Riel's proud

Metis roots.

The statue was commissioned by the Manitoba Metis Federation, with the

aid of funding from the provincial and federal governments.

The last few years have been controversial ones for the federation on a

number of fronts and the statue is no exception. There was confusion

and conflict over the contract to create the sculpture. Lemay insists

he was contracted to produce the statue, but the federation denies that

any commitment was made to the artist.

Not everyone was pleased with the monument. A Winnipeg Free Press

editorial described it as historically misleading, intellectually empty

and lacking in artistic integrity.