BS: Louis Riel and the Metis

Subject: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 12:51 AM

I'm looking for some good Canadian history books concerning Louis Riel and the Metis. Thanks folks. Cheers,................Harrison

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 04:40 AM

Try Thomas Flanagan's 'Louis "David" Riel - Prophet of the New World.' University of Toronto Press, 1996 edition. NB - Tom Flanagan is a noted political scientist at the University of Calgary and a little more to the right of centre than most Mudcatters.....

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: kendall
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 07:15 AM

I hope you have heard the Last Battle? Powerful song.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 08:14 AM

I would suggest that you veer away from "The Last Battle" by Tanglefoot at least until you have read "The Last War Drum" by Desmond Morton, "The Birth of Western Canada" by GFG Stanley, and "War in the West" by Rudy Wiebe.

Among other things, "The Last Battle" tries to heighten the drama of an already very dramatic event by adding false information while leaving out details that were true, but not so easy to fit into a lyric. For the record, the Canadian militia did not bring Gatling guns to Batoche. It is true, however, that the Metis defenders of the village never gave up until their ammunition was completely gone, and they were charging their weapons with stones.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 08:18 AM

the song...Louis Riel....by Willie Dunn, recorded around 1970...
I posted the words here in a thread on Metis culture awhile back...
and
The RCMP finally took the hanging rope out of their museum in Regina after much protest from the Metis... talk about tasteless..

I'm still waiting for Louis to be pardoned...

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 08:34 AM

ps... 'Caesars of the Wilderness' by Peter C. Newman
a 500 page chronicle about the history of the fur trade.. voyageurs, Hudson's Bay Company (Empire), Norwesters, Simon Frazer, David Thompson, MacKenzie,Simpson, Selkirk, Riel.... he doesn't leave much out..

if you pm me your email address... I'll fwd you an MP3 of Willie's song.. R.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 11:33 AM

There is also a good (if old) biography of Louis Riel by Joseph Schull. I think it was published in 1970 -- the centennial of the Red River rebellion.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: open mike
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 11:46 AM

Connie Kaldor has a song about Riel, too. maybe on her Wood River c.d.
http://www.conniekaldor.com/

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 11:51 AM

'The Last Battle' is by Bill Gallaher.

I need to find out where to by Willie Dunn's recordings. I never got the chance to look at his CDs or any others when I was at Apple Hollow last summer.

There's some information on Riel and the rebellion here, at Riel at The Heritage Centre.
En Français

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: kendall
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 11:57 AM

History is always wrtten by the winners.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: gnu
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 12:00 PM

GUEST,bankley... Newman's book was awesome. I must see if I still have it squirrelled away in the basement somewhere and read it again.

Minds me of another re-read I must be at if I can find it... The Scarlet Force.... I read it some 40 years ago. So, of course, all I can recall is that I liked it when I was a tadpole. Nothing to do with Riel - about the early days of the RCMP.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 01:09 PM

For his time, an educated man, schooled in Montreal.

1. Selected Poetry of Louis Riel, translated by Paul Savoie and edited by Glen Campbell, 1993, Exile Editions.
Highly recommended. His better poetry, minus many of his religious poems. The original French with translations into English.

2. The Collected Writings of Louis Riel/Les Ecrits Complets de Louis Riel, Editor in chief George F. C. Stanley, 1985, Five Volumes. University of Alberta Press.
Comprehensive, with detailed notes.

See previous threads; Riel was much discussed.

O love, cherished,
Let friendship guide you.
When I've perished
To our vows be true.
At times keep vigil
Where my ashes lay.
And, at my side still
Silent prayers pray.

Trans. by Paul Savoie.

Subject: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 01:46 PM

This thread should be above the line with the rest of the Riel threads.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 01:47 PM

one of the most beautiful songs ever was supposedly written by him as a farewell..chanson de louis riel..great controversy as to whether he wrote it or not but i like to believe that he did. he did write other lyrics or poems or whatever. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 03:15 PM

He was definitely a poet, visionary... and knew somehow that the Metis would survive through the arts, which they have..
Gabriel Dumont was his general, more of a fighter than artist. Being a crack shot and great horseman, he did a stint in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show after Batoche...

Jeri, give me your mail address again and I'll send some of Willie's music to you... he didn't bring any to the Fest. I'm on some of his later recordings.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 03:17 PM

The "Farewell," translation and original French, is posted in thread 17431:
Ballade
Riel

Not in Riel's collected poems (vol. 4, Collected writings ...) but written at the time and could have been written by him.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: GUEST,rumanci
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 08:35 PM

If it helps....

There is a brief but very informative prose outline of Louis Riel's story and excellent photographs from those times in a new book.

100 Photos That Changed Canada


By Mark Reid (editor)
format: hardcover
publication: October 2009
ISBN: 9781554684977

but it's expensive so if your local library has a copy try
971.002 for the right Dewey (DDS) reference code.

Subject: RE: BS: Louis Riel and the Metis
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 11:49 PM

Many thanks to all who have given to this thread. We're in preparation to have musician friends up from San Antonio for the Thanksgiving holiday so things are hectic around here today and will be for a bit.

Kendall - yes, I have heard, "The Last Battle," in fact, I have Gordon Bok's version of it and it is that song which has led me to take an interest in Riel and the Metis. Of course, long ago I read, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," and came out thinking that the American natives were correct - I have a pre-established bias here too, I'm sure.

Thanks again to all for giving up your information and if you're American then I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving; and, if you're not an American then I suggest you go get yourself a turkey, invite friends and family over and you too - have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Cheers,.........................Harrison