The Métis were marginalized in the Prairie provinces by the increasingly English-dominated majority. Riel was seen as a heroic victim by French Canadians his execution had a lasting negative impact on Canada, polarizing the new nation along ethno-religious lines. Despite protests, popular appeals and the jury's call for clemency, Riel was executed by hanging. Defeated at the Battle of Batoche, Riel was imprisoned in Regina where he was convicted at trial of high treason. In 1884 Riel was called upon by the Métis leaders in Saskatchewan to help resolve longstanding grievances with the Canadian government, which led to an armed conflict with government forces: the North-West Rebellion of 1885. He married in 1881 while in exile in the Montana Territory. During these years in exile he came to believe that he was a divinely chosen leader and prophet. He was elected three times as member of the House of Commons, but, fearing for his life, he could never take his seat. Riel soon fled to the United States to escape prosecution. However, while carrying out the resistance, Riel had a Canadian nationalist, Thomas Scott, executed. The provisional government established by Riel ultimately negotiated the terms under which the new province of Manitoba entered the Canadian Confederation. The first resistance movement led by Riel was the Red River Resistance of 1869–1870.

Riel sought to defend Métis rights and identity as the Northwest Territories came progressively under the Canadian sphere of influence. He led two resistance movements against the Government of Canada and its first prime minister John A. Louis Riel ( / ˈ l uː i r i ˈ ɛ l/ French: 22 October 1844 – 16 November 1885) was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political leader of the Métis people.

Louis riel comic