Portrayal Of Riel As A Villain About Land: Prof

Portrayal Of Riel As A Villain About Land: Prof

Thursday, March 04, 2010 at 14:13

A Saskatchewan university professor is reacting to an MP’s statement that Louis Riel was a villain.

Jesse Archibald Barber teaches English at the First Nations University in Regina.

He says the problems that were going on at the time are still happening today.

Barber says Edmonton MP Peter Goldring is trying to validate the immigrants’ claim to Metis land — a claim Barber calls “really foundationless”.

Last December, Goldring released a newsletter stating that Riel was a villain who should not be pardoned.

Winnipeg MP Pat Martin has been campaigning for Riel to be granted a posthumous pardon.