Louis Riel

Louis Riel, born in what is now Manitoba, led two Métis governments, both of which were less 'governments' and more 'fierce resistance movements' against Canadian encroachment. He's often lauded as a folk hero and father of Confederation, though presumably not by the government that executed him. His vision for a multicultural West was, shall we say, ahead of its time, considering he ended up on the gallows for it.

Descended from French-Canadian and First Nations heritage, Riel's spiritual journey took a few interesting detours, culminating in him believing he was a prophet chosen to lead his people. While his fervor for the Métis cause was undeniable, and his efforts secured rights for his people,