The Metis

The Metis were partly french and partly indian. Their leader wascalled Louis riel. Following the Union of the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company in 1821, trading had been reorganized in order to reduce expenses. Since there was no longer competition in the fur trade, it was unnecessary to have two or more posts serving a single trading district. For this reason, some posts had been closed and the number of brigades reduced. This …

…the leader of a minor Metis revolt in 1849 against the Hudson's Bay Company. Born in the red River region in 1944, Riel had been chosen as a possible candidate for the priesthood and had stidied at the Jesuit College de Montreal. However, he failed to complete his religious studies and returned to the Red River in 1868, looking for employment. His powers of eloquence and his hot-tempered nature soon made him an outspoken defenter of the Metis.