The Lions
Politics • Culture • Education
A group of friends with mostly centrist or conservative viewpoints who share resources and ideas about the governance of Alberta and Canada and about world events and trends.
Interested? Want to learn more about the community?

Learn more first
February 19, 2024

Louis Riel portrait updated to recognize Métis leader as first premier of Manitoba

WINNIPEG — A portrait of Louis Riel hanging in the provincial legislature now recognizes the Métis leader as Manitoba’s first premier.

Premier Wab Kinew and Manitoba Métis Federation President David Chartrand unveiled the updated plaque below the portrait today, which is recognized as Louis Riel Day in the province.

Riel led a provisional government in what is now Manitoba and blazed the trail for the province to join Confederation in 1870.

The Riel portrait has been on the walls of the legislative building for many years but the plaque designated Riel as president.

Kinew’s first legislation introduced after the NDP government came to power last year was to recognize Riel’s role as the first premier.

Chartrand says it is a historic and important way to honour Riel and the contributions of the Métis of the Red River.

“We have been 153 years in waiting and advocating to correct this part of our history, and today we see the true title of Louis Riel further acknowledged,” Chartrand said Monday.

Riel led a provisional government in the Red River Settlement in 1869 and adopted a list of rights for people of different cultures and languages.

As tensions rose during the transfer of land from the Hudson’s Bay Company to the Canadian government, Riel fought for the list of rights to form the basis of Manitoba’s entry into Confederation.

Riel fled to the United States after facing threats to his life. He was arrested after a later rebellion in what is now Saskatchewan, convicted of treason and hanged.
https://looniepolitics.com/louis-riel-portrait-updated-to-recognize-metis-leader-as-first-premier-of-manitoba/

Interested? Want to learn more about the community?

Learn more first
What else you may like…
Posts
October 07, 2025

Abolish the teachers' unions

Alberta strike cancelling classes across the province shows unions have far too much power
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/carson-jerema-abolish-the-teachers-unions

October 07, 2025

Tamara & Chris sentenced. The Message is Clear: Dissent is Now a Crime.
Writer: Timothy Knight
Timothy Knight
1 hour ago
2 min read

ree

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber got 12 months of house arrest today for “mischief.”
Not violence.
Not property damage.
Mischief.

Peaceful Canadians—criminalised for daring to speak out. The same justice system that drops charges for real crimes and lets violent offenders walk free spent three years trying to break two people who stood for freedom.
The Crown had outrageously demanded seven years in jail to make an example out of them.

Why?
To warn you.
To scare anyone who might ever peacefully defy the state again.

Even the judge admitted Chris Barber “came with the noblest of intent” and never called for violence.

But it didn’t matter. They needed bogeymen.

We remember all the others:
Maxime Bernier was handcuffed in Manitoba for speaking at a peaceful rally.
Mark Friesen was fined thousands for organizing gatherings.
Randy Hillier saw convoy charges stayed after years of harassment.
Todd Dube was ...

October 07, 2025
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals