" 4113et1s Citizens ,5ociety, 5619 Curtis Place, Sechelt, BC, VON 3A7, Phone: (604) 741-3813 Email: [email protected] April 3, 2017 J. Wayne Rowe, Mayor of Gibsons, BC. 474 S. Fletcher Rd., Gibsons, BC, VON WO Dear Mayor Rowe: Re: Exoneration of On behalf of the Vancouver Metis Citizens Society (VMCS) and its many members living in the Gibsons area, we are asking the Town of Gibsons to join the cross country movement to exonerate Louis Riel. The purpose of this movement is to request the Federal Government of to table a Bill in Parliament for the Exoneration (not Pardon) of Louis Riel and the designation of him as a Father of Confederation. In March of this year the City of Montreal and its Mayor Denis Coderre declared their support for the exoneration of Louis Riel during the 150th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. In a spirit of reconciliation with the Mdis people of Canada during this 150th Anniversary Year the VMCS asks the Town of Gibsons: 1. To faunally declare the support of the Town of Gibsons for the Exoneration of Louis Riel. 2. To issue and forward to the a supporting document from the Town of Gibsons for the Exoneration of Louis Riel. Further information on Louis Riel and his unfair and unjust trial are contained in Appendix "A" and Appendix "B" attached to the "Exoneration of Louis Rid" paper that is enclosed herewith. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the undersigned or our historical consultants George and Terry Goulet at (604) 885-8893, and gandtgouletra),yanoo.com. We look forward from hearing from you concerning this matter. LONG LIVE THE METIS

Ron Paradis, President Vancouver Metis Citizens Society End. c.c. Councillor Charlene Sanjenko Exoneration of Louis Riel

Louis Riel is the iconic hero of the Metis people and many non- Metis all across Canada, including the Province of . Over the years a number of private member's bills have been tabled with the Government of Canada with respect to his important role in Confederation. These bills have all died on the order paper. Across Canada today there is presently a movement to request the Federal Government of Canada to table a bill in Parliament for the Exoneration (not Pardon) of Louis Riel and the designation of him as a Father of Confederation. The 150th anniversary year of Confederation is an appropriate time for such a Bill. Attached hereto are two Articles by Metis Historians George and Terry Goulet that provide information on the exoneration of Louis Riel*. In March 2017 the City of Montreal joined with l'union nationale Metise Saint Joseph du Manitoba and the Manitoba Francophone Society to request the Federal Government to declare Louis Riel innocent. The Mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre has declared his support for this important move for Riel's exoneration in the context of the 150th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada_ At its annual general meeting in June, 2016, the Vancouver Metis Citizen's Society (VMCS) unanimously voted to support such a Parliamentary Bill to exonerate Louis Riel from his High Treason conviction of 1885. In a spirit of reconciliation with the Metis People, the VMCS hereby requests the Town of Gibsons to pass the following resolution concerning the exoneration of Louis Riel and to forward the Resolution to the Government of Canada:

The Town of Gibsons hereby requests that the Government of Canada table and support a Parliamentary Bill to Exonerate Louis Riel and declare him innocent from his High Treason conviction of 1885, and designate him as a Father of Confederation.

* Attached are copies of the following items: (a) Article titled "Louis Riel, a Metis Hero and Icon" By George and Terry Goulet (Historical Consultants). (b) Article titled "Justice for Louis Riel requires Exoneration" By George and Terry Goulet (Historical Consultants). 1 Exoneration of Louis Riel

Louis Riel is the iconic hero of the Metis people and many non- Metis Canadians all across Canada, including the Province of British Columbia. Over the years a number of private member's bills have been tabled with the Government of Canada with respect to his important role in Confederation. These bills have all died on the order paper. Across Canada today there is presently a movement to request the Federal Government of Canada to table a bill in Parliament for the Exoneration (not Pardon) of Louis Riel and the designation of him as a Father of Confederation. The 150th anniversary year of Confederation is an appropriate time for such a Bill. Attached hereto are two Articles by Metis Historians George and Terry Goulet that provide information on the exoneration of Louis Riel*. In March 2017 the City of Montreal joined with l'union nationale Metise Saint Joseph du Manitoba and the Manitoba Francophone Society to request the Federal Government to declare Louis Riel innocent. The Mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre has declared his support for this important move for Riel's exoneration in the context of the 150th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. At its annual general meeting in June, 2016, the Vancouver Metis Citizen's Society (VMCS) unanimously voted to support such a Parliamentary Bill to exonerate Louis Riel from his High Treason conviction of 1885. In a spirit of reconciliation with the Metis People, the VMCS hereby requests the City of Gibsons to pass the following resolution concerning the exoneration of Louis Riel and to forward the Resolution to the Government of Canada:

The City of Gibsons hereby requests that the Government of Canada table and support a Parliamentary Bill to Exonerate Louis Riel and declare him innocent from his High Treason conviction of 1885, and designate him as a Father of Confederation.

* Attached are copies of the following items: (a) Article titled "Louis Riel, a Metis Hero and Icon" By George and Terry Goulet (Historical Consultants). (b) Article titled "Justice for Louis Riel requires Exoneration" By George and Teffy Goulet (Historical Consultants).

1 Attachment "A" LOUIS RIEL A Mats Hero and Icon By George and Terry Goulet The historical Metis were the descendants of the union of European men and First Nations women. They developed their own unique shared customs, culture, history, and heritage. They were known as the children of the fur trade. The great hero and icon of the Metis is Louis Riel who was born in the Red River Settlement of Rupert's Land in 1844. In 1870, when he was only 25 years old, the charismatic Riel was elected by the Metis and white settlers as President of the Provisional Government of Red River that was responsible for bringing the Province of Manitoba into the Canadian Federation. Subsequently in 1884 the settlers of the Canadian colony of what is now Saskatchewan sent a delegation of Metis and white settlers to Montana to plead with Riel to return with them to the North West Territories. They wanted him to help them obtain their rights and to seek remedies for their grievances against Canada. It is not possible in a short article to give a comprehensive account of the events surrounding this important part of Canadian history_ Accordingly we are providing a number of rhetorical questions to highlight some of significant matters relating to Louis Riel and the Metis people. •Did you know that during the Red River Resistance of 1869-70 and the Northwest Uprising of 1885 the Metis under the leadership of Louis Riel were fighting for basic human rights? • Did you know that among those things they were attempting to achieve were responsible government, parliamentary representation, land grants and title, income for hospitals and schools, better provisions for First Nations, and Provincial status? *Did you know that that at the time of the Red River Resistance of 1869-70 Canada consisted of only four Provinces - , Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia? • Did you know that at that time Red River, as part of Rupert's Land, was not part of Canada, that Canada had no jurisdiction over it, and as a result the Red River Resistance was not a "rebellion" against Canada? • Did you know that at the time of the 1885 Northwest Uprising, the North West Territories (now Saskatchewan and Alberta) was a colony of Canada and the residents were being treated as second-class citizens? •Did you know that the armed conflict and first bloodshed of the Northwest Uprising was initiated not by the Metis but by "Gentleman Joe" McKay? On the instructions of his Superior North West Mounted Police Major Lief Crozier, McKay shot at point blank range and killed both the Metis Isadore Dumont and a First Nation representative Assywin, who had come in order to parley with Crozier and McKay. *Did you know that there were serious judicial, political, and legal improprieties related to Riel's 1885 trial for High Treason including secret correspondence between the Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of Manitoba? • Did you know that during the Northwest Uprising Riel never fired a shot or killed anyone? • Did you know that Riel's lawyers disobeyed his specific instructions for a trial on the merit of his actions, and without his authorization attempted to prove him insane on the instruction of some mysterious "others"? *Did you know that Charles Fitzpatrick, the lead lawyer for Riel, had a serious conflict of interest in acting for him, since Fitzpatrick was a law partner and brother-in-law of Adolphe Caron, the Minister of Militia who sent the Canadian Troops to crush Riel, the Metis and the Northwest Uprising? • Did you know that there were 72 people charged with Treason as a result of the Northwest Uprising? • Did you know that of these 72 people, 71 were charged with Treason-Felony under a Canadian Statute and only one, Louis Riel, was charged under an archaic 1351 Statute of Treasons of England? *Did you know that under the Canadian Statute the maximum penalty for those charged was imprisonment, but under the 534 year old English Statute under which Riel was charged, he could be executed on conviction? • Did you know that with respect to levying war, the 1351 Statute of Treasons applied only in the King's "Realm" that consisted only of England, Wales and the four narrow seas abutting them? • Did you know that the Northwest Uprising took place in what is now Saskatchewan, and NOT in the King's Realm, and consequently Riel was improperly charged, convicted and executed under that Statute? The following is a brief account of Louis Riel, the most remarkable person in Metis history. As their iconic leader, he represents all those valiant Metis who fought for basic human rights not only for the Metis but for other Canadians. The dynamic Rid was a natural-born leader whose life profoundly influenced Canadian society and politics, the founding of Manitoba, and the rights of Western Canadians His impact continues to this day and will continue into the future. Highly intelligent, well-educated and a compelling orator, he was elected to the Parliament of Canada on three separate occasions while he was still in his twenties although due to politics he was never able to take his seat. His fascinating life combined the heights of success and the depths of defeat, the sacred and the profane. To some he conjoined fame and infamy; to others he was an iconoclast who became an icon. To Riel himself he had a prophetic mission — to lead and champion his people, the Metis, in having their grievances remedied, their rights obtained, and their lives uplifted. Rid has been called the first prairie populist politician. A plaque accompanying the monumental statue of Louis Riel which stands adjacent to the magnificent Manitoba Legislative Buildings in reads in part: "In 1992, the Parliament of Canada and the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba formally recognized Riel's contribution to the development of the Canadian Confederation and his role, and that of the Metis, as founders of Manitoba." Many of the demands in the Bill of Rights he championed for the Metis and for Westerners in 1885 came to pass after his unjust execution. Results of his leadership of the Met-is include Manitoba becoming a Province of Canada in 1870; the people of what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta winning the right to vote and be elected Members of Parliament in 1886, responsible government in 1887, and Provincial status in 1905. Other notable outcomes inspired by Riel's life include the Metis people being specifically recognized as an Aboriginal rigjhts-bearing people in the Constitution Act of Canada, 1982 and his being looked upon by the Metis as a hero and their greatest symbol. Riel has been the subject of stage, radio, film, opera, television, documentaries, monuments, and a postage stamp. More books, biographies, songs, and articles have been written about this charismatic 'Wefts icon than any other person in the history of Canada. Riel is honored every year in a number of Canadian cities with flag raising ceremonies. These are held at city halls and other public places including his grave site in St. Boniface. Manitoba's statutory Family Holiday in February has been named "Louis Riel Day". Louis Rid is an inspiration to Metis people. It is as a result of his dedication, leadership, and legacy that the Metis today can be "PROUD TO BE METIS". His fight for basic human tights and democracy in Western Canada is truly memorable. Is Riel a hero? If a hero is one who forfeits his life as a result of fighting for the rights of his people and others in a just cause, then Louis Riel is a hero not only to the Metis but also to all Canadians who believe in and fight for basic human rights. LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF LOUIS RIEL 0 George and Terry Goulet September 2011 Attachment "B" JUSTICE FOR LOUIS RIEL REQUIRES EXONERATION By George and Terry Goulet For over 125 years the Metis have suffered the indignity of having their iconic leader Louis Riel denied justice. It is high time that the legal, political and judicial misdeeds surrounding his trial are exposed to all the people of Canada. These truths will prove that the injustices inflicted on Louis Riel led to his conviction and execution on November 16, 1885. Paul Chartrand deserves to be admired for his fiery devotion to the Metis people and their interests. However, his argument in the last issue of Eagle Feather News against MP Pat Martin's Bill C248 is based on a misinterpretation of the significant difference between "pardon" and "exoneration" with respect to the great Metis hero Louis Riel. In his article Chartrand refers to exonerate only once and to pardon six times. However dictionary definitions show that these terms are like night and day. "Pardon" means to "forgive" someone who has committed a crime or wrongdoing. "Exoneration" means to declare free from guilt; and it is decidedly not an act of mercy, clemency or forgiveness. Pardon means the person was guilty of an offence, has paid his dues to society, and is forgiven for the offence. Since a pardon requires that a criminal offence must have been committed, it is provided for in the Criminal Code of Canada or the Criminal Records Act. A discussion of pardon or forgiveness is not relevant to declaring Rid innocent and exonerating him. Exoneration means that the person was never guilty of the offence in the first place. It is not provided for in the Criminal Code of Canada or the Criminal Records Act. Exoneration can be effected by an Act of Parliament, by recommendation of a Royal Commission, or by the reversal of a conviction by a Court. It is our firm conclusion that Louis Rid was incorrectly charged under the 1351 Statute of Treasons of Great Britain. This Statute, with respect to levying war in the "realm", was not applicable in Canada_ Consequently Louis Rid was incorrectly charged, and accordingly was incorrectly convicted and incorrectly executed under that Statute. Thus Louis Rid must be exonerated The purpose of MP Pat Martin's Bill is NOT, as Chartrand indicates, to ask "the forgiveness of the parliamentarians" (which would be a pardon). The purpose of this Bill is to reverse the conviction of Louis Riel for High Treason and "to deem him innocent". This reversal of the Hi h Treason conviction would not be a pardon or forgiveness. Instead this Bill would result in the exoneration of Louis Rid. We would not support a Parliamentary Bill that would only pardon Louis Riel. However we wholeheartedly endorse a Bill that would exonerate Louis Riel. Many grass roots Metis from Western Canada that we have met support the exoneration of Louis Rid. Rid fought not only for land rights, he fought for democracy and basic human rights of the Metis and other Western Canadians such as responsible government, the right to vote and be elected to Parliament, Provincial status for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and even Alberta. Louis Riel represents all the people who supported the Maus cause during the North-West Uprising as well as the Red River Resistance. His conviction and execution wrongfully stigmatized and marginalized the Metis who joined with him in the pursuit of their basic human rights. The exoneration of Louis Riel would be the first step towards reconciliation of the wrongs done to the Metis people. Some writers feel that the execution of Louis Riel is a stain on the honor of Canada and that the stain should remain We disagree. The Mous people are also Canadians and love their country, notwithstanding its deficiencies and shortcomings. This stain needs to be removed in the interest of justice for Louis Riel and the Metis people, and to set the record straight. Wrongful convictions have been reversed many times in Canada when the true facts come to light. Examples are the wrongful convictions of Steven Truscott, Donald Marshall, and . In cases such as these, it was imperative that the judicial error and historical record be corrected by reversing the convictions, not by granting a pardon. Exoneration of Louis Riel is long overdue. A Private Member's Bill (such as Pat Martin's that is not Government-sponsored) would not be an exercise in political expediency nor would it be mercy or forgiveness. An Article in a 2004 issue of the Saskatchewan Law Review referred to a 1998 statement by the Riel family. It stated in part that the Riel family would not back any Bill that simply pardoned Riel but wished a Bill enacted that proclaimed the innocence of Riel on the charge, and reversed his conviction. Exoneration of Louis Riel would be an act of justice — one which corrects the injustice of his unlawful conviction and execution in 1885. Thus the innocence of this great Metis icon would be proclaimed not only in Canada but throughout the World. © George and Terry Goulet, January 6, 2011. ADDENDUM In 2011 a paper by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin of the titled "Louis Riel: Patriot Rebel" was published in the Manitoba Law Journal (Vol. 35 Number 1). In this paper the Chief Justice stated "Louis Riel the victim of the justice system"; Riel "viewed through our modern lens .... was a patriot"; in addition to other insightful comments she wrote concerning Louis Riel.