132 years after his execution, many Mtis reject exonerating Louis Riel

As Canada marks the 132nd anniversary of the execution of Louis Riel, the question of whether he should be exonerated remains a divisive one.

TheMtisleader washanged on Nov.16, 1885, for his role in the Northwest Rebellion. And whilethere have been calls to pardon Riel, some Mtis feel that's not the best way to honour their leader including Riel'sgreat-grandniece.

It will achieve nothing. I prefer to leave history the way that it is.- JeanTeillet,great-grandniece of Louis Riel

Jean Teilletsaid exonerating Riel would be equivalent to the government exonerating itself in his death.

"They're the ones who hanged him," she said.

"You can't give him back his life ... You cannot fix something after you've exacted the worst punishment that we could grant."

Teillet, who is a lawyer atPape Salter Teillet,where she specializes in Indigenous rights law,says there is "no point."

"It will achieve nothing. I prefer to leave history the way that it is," she said.

"And I agree with [Mtis lawyer and educator] PaulChartrand, who says, 'The hanging of Louis Riel is a stain on the honour of Canada, and I say let the stain remain.'"

'Great contribution' to history

Teilletsays any overtures by the government to pardon Riel take the place of any real action for Canada'sMtis.

"Whenever the government starts talking about exoneration, usually what that seems to mean is that that's the only thing that they will do for theMtis," said Teillet.

According to Teillet, the conversation around exonerating Rielbeganafter the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) failed to include theMtisin its report.

The RCAP was set up in 1991, and five years laterproduced a 4,000-page document that recommended changes for First Nations and Inuit people.

• 'Honour a great man': Louis Riel's legacy gets its due
• Calling for Louis Riel's Exoneration

"They left off the Mtis entirely, until all of the leadership started to harangue them," said Teillet.

"And then they came back and all they could say was they would exonerate Louis Riel."

The office of Canadian Heritage Minister Mlanie Jolydeclined to comment about the idea of pardoning Riel.

"Our government recognizes the great contribution Louis Riel made to our history," spokesperson Simon Ross said in an email to CBC News. "The values he defended, including equality and inclusion, are important for our government."

Tell 'the true story'

For the past 30 years, DavidChartrand, president of the Manitoba Mtis Federation (MMF), has participated with his family in honouring Riel on November16.

Chartrand wouldlike for Riel to be recognized not only as the father of the province of Manitobabut also as aFather of Confederation.

"That's the second part," he said.

But he agrees Riel shouldn't be exonerated.

"We would never allow it," saidChartrand.

"That's been attempted so many times already. Some, in goodwill,believe that's the pathway to correcting history."

Chartrandsaida better way of fixing past wrongs against theMtisnationwould be to change the wayMtishistory is taught in the education system.

"Telling the true story of how theMtisplayed a significant role in not only the saving of Western Canada, but ensuring that we weren't Americans," saidChartrand.

"We could have been Americans today if it wasn't for Riel and theMtisnation and its leadership."

Outsiders in Canada's history

RussellFayant, an instructor with the Gabriel Dumont Institute's Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) in Regina, says rebellingwas the way to get the government's attention.

"Many Mtis people, including myself, are quite proud of the fact that Mtis people did that."

Hesaid the community doesn't need the exonerationto have a legitimate stamp placed on Riel or the Mtis cause.

"We already have that," he said.

"What we've seen recently, particularly in Quebec, is many Canadians claimingMtisstatus based on the fact that they have a random Indigenous ancestor," saidFayant.

"I fear that with exonerationis going to come more claiming of Riel [ancestry], not only in Quebecbut all parts of Canada."