Ambroise Lepine
Adjutant-General of the first Provisional Government in Manitoba, Lepine was instrumental in the sentencing of Orangeman Thomas Scott. Lepine was a staunch follower of Riel and a strong Métis activist. In 1874, he was tried and convicted for the murder of Scott, but after the Governor General intervened, his sentence was lessened. Lepine was commuted to 2 years imprisonment and lost his civil rights. It wasn’t until 1915 that those rights were restored.
Marguerite Riel
While exiled and teaching school in Montana, Riel met and married Marguerite Bellehumeur, an American Metisse. When Riel returned to Saskatchewan in 1885 to help the Métis, Marguerite accompanied him. Marguerite died just a few months after Riel’s execution. Riel and Marguerite had two children together both of whom died in young adulthood.
Additional Resources
- Manitoba Historical Society (www.mhs.mb.ca)
- The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture (www.metismuseum.com)
- Métis Nation of Ontario – Métis History and Culture (www.metisnation.org)
- Métis Nation of Alberta – The Voice for Métis Albertans (albertametis.com)
- Prairies to Woodlands – Discover Southern Michif and other Métis languages! (michif.org)
- Rupertsland Institute – Métis Centre of Excellence (rupertsland.org)