Louis Riel was one of the most controversial figures in Canadian history and, even today – more than a century after his execution – he is still remembered. Many considered him a villain; others considered him a hero. So who was he really? Born in St. Boniface, in the Canadian Red River Colony (now Winnipeg, Manitoba), on October 22, 1844, Louis Riel hoped to one day follow in his father's footsteps and become a great Métis leader like him. Ultimately, Riel was considered a hero to the French-speaking Métis. However, in Western Canada, most people considered him a villain due to his execution in 1885. Nevertheless, Louis Riel was not really a villain by heart; just an imperfect man who has made many mistakes in his life. Today, many more people see him as a visionary and recognize the many contributions he made to building Canada as a nation. He was undoubtedly a Canadian hero, primarily because of his involvement with the Métis, Manitoba's confederation with Canada, and his peaceful approach to issues. Many people considered Louis Riel a hero because of his passion for preserving Métis rights and culture. Riel was a great Métis leader because he risked his own life simply to improve the lives of the Métis. His heroism began when he returned home to Red River in 1868 after his studies and discovered that the colony was alarmed by arrangements to transfer territorial rights from the Hudson's Bay Company to the Dominion of Canada. In effect, the Hudson's Bay Company relinquished its control over the Northwest and sold Rupert's Land to Canada. This led the Métis (people of mixed indigenous and European ancestry) to fear losing control of their homeland and their traditional rights. They we...... middle of paper...... fights. This finally ended when Louis Riel surrendered on May 15, 1885, after the defeat at Batoche. Riel had written a letter to General Frederick Middleton (British general), saying that he did not like war and would only surrender if the Métis were freed. After the rebellion ended, Riel became a prisoner of the Canadian government and was tried for treason in Regina. He was eventually convicted and executed as a traitor. This is how the heroic and peaceful founder of the province of Manitoba and defender of Métis rights lived and died. In summary, Louis Riel was without a doubt a hero. Despite the mistakes he made and the things he did that might have upset the Canadian government, all of his actions contributed to Canada's growth as a nation. He was one of the most important figures in Canadian history and a true Canadian hero..