On Nov. 14, 2015, the City of Guelph, along with members of the Grand River Métis, raised the Métis flag over City Hall in downtown Guelph.
The fifth annual flag raising in Guelph was part of the event commemorating the hanging of the Manitoba Métis leader Louis Riel in 1885.
Louis Riel led a rebellion in the geographic region of Canada now referred to as Manitoba. In the past he has been portrayed as a rebel, an outlaw, and a zealot. Curators of Canadian history have, in recent years, taken action to denounce the negative portrayal of Riel.
Cam Guthrie, the Mayor of Guelph, made it known that he believes Riel to be a Canadian hero, adding that he was proud to have the blue and white Métis flag flying over city hall. Jennifer Parkinson, President of the Grand River Métis Council, spoke about how Riel understood and fought for the rights of the Métis people, especially as the Canadian government threatened Métis culture, communities and way of life. A general shift in attitude towards Riel’s place in history has been a positive change. City Councillor James Gordon compared Riel’s current legacy to that of famous rebel Che Guevara, saying that although Riel was “vilified in his lifetime” he is currently more of a “pop icon.”
Gordon, who is of Métis heritage, spoke about the welcoming community of Guelph and the positivity of collaboration that comes from important events like flag raisings.
“An event like the flag-raising is a hopeful sign that such harmony can happen, despite the disharmony that exists around the world,” said writer Rob O’Flanagan, in a piece for the Guelph Mercury.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the government had reneged on the Manitoba Act of 1870, which called for 1.4 million acres of land to be set aside for Métis children following Riel’s Red River Rebellion. The court ruled that the Government of Canada must negotiate a settlement in good faith.
The Ontario government, via the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, released a statement recognizing Louis Riel Day.
“Our government has been working hard to broaden and deepen our relationship with the Métis Nation of Ontario,” explained a section of the Nov. 16, 2015 news release. “Last year, we renewed a five-year Framework Agreement, underscoring our continued commitment to work in partnership on our shared priorities.”
Furthermore, the new federal government has promised to negotiate a settlement with the Manitoba Métis Federation, as part of Canada’s ongoing reparative actions.
Leanne Piper, a Guelph city councillor, said that there is a “spirit of optimism” that comes with the new federal government that “makes me really hopeful that we are going to move forward on some of these political and legal matters and truly become an inclusive nation.”