Louis Riel Sr. facts for kids
Louis Riel Sr. (born July 7, 1817, died January 21, 1864) was an important Métis leader. He was a farmer and a miller. He is also famous for being the father of Louis Riel, another very important Métis leader.
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About Louis Riel Sr.
Early Life and Education
Louis Riel Sr. was born in Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan. He was the oldest son of Jean-Baptiste Riel and Marguerite Boucher. His mother was a Franco-Chipewyan Métis woman. When Louis was a child, his family moved to Lower Canada.
He went to school in Quebec. There, he learned how to prepare wool for making cloth. In 1838, he started working in the fur trade. He joined the Hudson's Bay Company. He worked at Rainy River, Ontario. He left the company in 1842. After that, he went back to Quebec. For a short time, he thought about becoming a priest.
Settling in the West
Louis Riel Sr. soon returned to the Canadian West. He settled in the Red River Colony. This area is now part of Winnipeg, Manitoba. In January 1844, he married Julie Lagimodière. She was the daughter of a famous voyageur, Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière. Louis and Julie had eleven children. They were known as a very close and religious family.
Riel tried to start several businesses in the Red River Colony. He opened a small mill on his farm. He hoped to make a business that would clean and thicken wool. He also tried to run a mill to grind grain and prepare wool for the Grey Nuns. People called him the "miller of the Seine". However, his businesses were not very successful. He even tried to start a textile factory, but it also failed.
A Community Leader
Even though his businesses struggled, Louis Riel Sr. became a strong leader for the Métis people. He was very active in the Red River Métis community. He played a key role in defending Guillaume Sayer during his trial in May 1849. This trial was a big moment. It helped end the Hudson's Bay Company's control over the fur trade.
Riel continued to fight for the rights of the Métis. He helped them get a voice on the Council of Assiniboia. He also worked to make sure that French could be used in the courts of Assiniboia, just like English.
His Legacy
Louis Riel Sr.'s actions deeply influenced his son, Louis Riel Jr. His son followed in his footsteps. Louis Riel Jr. became the most famous Métis leader. He is known as the "Father of Manitoba". When Louis Riel Sr. passed away on January 21, 1864, the whole settlement mourned his death.
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