'Correcting history': Louis Riel's portrait as Manitoba's 1st honorary premier unveiled

The head of the Manitoba Métis Federation says his nation has reached "the turning point" in its history as a new portrait to honour Louis Riel as the province's first honorary premier was unveiled at the legislature Monday.

MMF President David Chartrand and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew spent part of Louis Riel Day unveiling the portrait of the Métis leader, who led a provisional government and led negotiations that paved the way for the province's entry into Confederation in 1870.

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Riel was hanged for treason at age 41 in 1885 after leading two Métis resistances, and has sometimes been a controversial figure in Canadian history, but is now widely celebrated for his leadership.

Kinew and Chartrand were also at Riel's gravesite at the St. Boniface Cathedral later Monday to present The Louis Riel Act, which Kinew introduced last year to recognize the Métis leader as Manitoba's first honorary premier.

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/louis-riel-first-premier-manitoba-1.7119476