L’Amnistie is an essay written by Louis Riel in January 1874. It provides his perspective on the events leading up to and immediately following the Red River Resistance of 1870.
Riel provided his perspectives on the transferring of Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company to Canada and the formation of the Métis provisional government. He explained the efforts the provisional government took to protect the rights of Métis and original settlers in the territory as well as the events leading to the execution of Thomas Scott. After reviewing the resistance, he addressed the provisional government’s negotiations with Canada regarding Manitoba entering Confederation. Once Manitoba entered Confederation, Riel stated “le gouvernement canadien a rompu dès le commencement le traité solennel qu'il a'fait avec le gouvernement Provisoire,” translated to English “the Canadian Government broke from the start the solemn treaty it had made with the Provisional Government,” and accused the federal government of being deceptive for failing to provide amnesty that was promised throughout negotiations. Finally, he expressed concern about the arrival of Colonel Garnet Wolseley’s troops in the new province of Manitoba, including the violent arrest of some members of the provisional government. The actions of Wolseley’s troops were described by newspapers at the time, as well as Métis Elders and historians, as a “reign of terror” directed at Métis.
An image of page 22 of Louis Riel’s L’Amnistie is included below. The Canadian Encyclopedia includes this primary source as part of a partnership with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network's Canadiana collections. For the work in its entirety, please visit their website.
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Page 22 of L’Amnistie by Louis Riel, published in 1874
(by Louis Riel, courtesy Canadiana)