Louis Riel, even today, remains one of the most controversial figures in Canadian history. He was a political and spiritual leader of the Métis of the Canadian Prairies who sought to preserve the rights and culture of the Métis as their homelands progressively came under Canadian influence. The circumstance of his death had lasting political consequences in Canada and was opposed by many. His trial is undoubtedly one of the most famous in Canadian history, and the question of whether it was unfair is a matter of debate. Louis RielLouis Riel was born on 22 October 1844 at Red River Settlement, Rupert's Land. He was the eldest of eleven children. He was educated at San Boniface where his teachers considered him a promising student. He then went on to the Collège de Montréal to study priesthood, but withdrew after his father's premature death in 1864. In 1865 he studied law and attempted to train as a lawyer with Rodolphe LaFlamme but never graduated. He is believed to have worked briefly in Chicago, Illinois and St. Paul, Minnesota before returning to the Red River area in 1868. It was after his return that Louis Riel immersed himself in politics, emerging as a leader of the Métis. , Red River and the Northwest were to be transferred from the Hudson's Bay Company to Canadian jurisdiction, so survey parties were sent to Red River. These crews were disoriented by a group of Métis including Riel, who then organized themselves as the “Métis National Committee” with Riel as secretary. This committee formed a provisional government in December 1869, and Louis Riel became its president. This government established a Bill of Rights for the Métis people. They were challenged by a group of English colonists known as......middle of paper......artists, Heroes or Traitors? Retrieved June 5, 2014, from http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Canada/Riel/riel.htmThe Northwest Resistance. (n.d.). Luigi Riel. Retrieved June 4, 2014, from http://library.usask.ca/northwest/ background/riel.htm Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (April 26, 2014). Luigi Riel. Retrieved June 4, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (April 8, 2014). Trial of Louis Riel. Retrieved June 5, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_of_Louis_RielYahoo! Answers. (n.d.). Was Louis Riel a hero or a traitor? Retrieved June 5, 2014, from https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090615212104AAZjjpH Yahoo! Answers. (n.d.). Do you think Louis Riel was innocent or guilty? Retrieved June 5, 2014, from https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101126200443AAiKtrD