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Article: Many followers will celebrate Riel's fight for Metis identity.(footprints)
- Article from:
- Wind Speaker
- Article date:
- October 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Next month marks the 123rd anniversary of the death of Louis Riel, the martyr who gave identity to Metis people.
Born on Oct. 22, 1844, Riel's role as the undisputed spiritual and political head of the Metis was set by religious parents and authorities who recognized his brilliance at an early age. His father Louis Riel and mother Julie Lagimodiere were both devout Catholics and had considered a religious life before marrying each other. Their piety was an important factor in the family's daily life.
Young Louis Riel spent his childhood on the east bank of the Red River, growing up among the Metis and extremely conscious of his identity, inherited ...