Biography:As a political and spiritual leader of the Metis people of the Canadian prairies, he led two resistance movements against the Canadian government, seeking to preserve Metis rights and culture.
He was arrested and charged with treason before being executed in 1885.
1869-07-19 Louis Riel speaks at a meeting of Metis residents about rights, setting in motion the events now referred to as the Red River Rebellion
1870-03-04 On command of Louis Riel, Thomas Scott is executed by a firing squad. Riel rejects all appeals and requests to intervene in an attempt to demonstrate to the Canadian government that the Métis must be taken seriously
1872-03-02 Louis Riel goes into voluntary exile in St. Paul, Minnesota
1885-03-19 Louis Riel returns to Canada, proclaims provisional government in Saskatchewan
1885-03-26 Battle of Duck Lake: Louis Riel's forces defeat Canadian forces at Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, 1st engagement of the North-West Rebellion
1885-05-12 Battle of Batoche: Louis Riel and the Metis defeated by Frederick Middleton, leads to collapse of Provincial Government of Saskatchewan and surrender of Riel
1885-05-15 Canadian Métis insurgent Louis Riel captured in the aftermath of the Battle of Batoche in Saskatchewan