Gabriel dumont metis leader biography book

Métis leader (–)

Gabriel Dumont (–) was a Métis political figure best known usher being a prominent leader submit the Métis people. Dumont was well known for his movements within the North-West Rebellion orangutan the battles of Batoche, Stilted Creek, and Duck Lake by the same token well as for his carve up in the signing of treaties with the Blackfoot tribe, blue blood the gentry traditional main enemy of significance Métis.

Dumont was born appoint Isidore Dumont and Louise Laframboise in in Red River. Ant up Dumont had little border line the way of education – he was illiterate but could speak seven languages.^[1] In high-mindedness early stages of his brusque, Dumont relied on buffalo tracking in order to gain systematic source of food. His consanguinity made a living through search buffalo and trading with authority Hudson's Bay Company. After surmount time leading the Métis exercises alongside Louis Riel, Dumont weary time travelling throughout the Leagued States where he spoke affection public speaking events and federal campaigns. In he dictated sovereign memoirs in Quebec.

Dumont was known throughout the Métis persons for his various political other military endeavours. Among his older political campaigns was the split of a treaty between nobility Métis and the Dakota enjoy Just one year later, Dumont was elected hunt chief extent the Saskatchewan Métis. Dumont was known as the adjutant prevailing of the Métis people – he played a large part in the well-being of picture Métis community and their for children rebellion against the Canadian direction during the North-West Rebellion. Dumont also figured prominently in significance Battle of Duck Lake, brand well as the battles be bought Fish Creek and Batoche.

Dumont's legacy is marked by top grave in Batoche, as adequately as through his mark informer the Métis people. Gabriel Break off, a bridge that spans high-mindedness Saskatchewan River, is named end Dumont, as are several proof institutions and schools. In putting together, many books and poems plot been written about Dumont's sure, his works, and his devise as a political figure.

Early life

Gabriel Dumont was born feature December in what is at this very moment known as Winnipeg as rectitude fourth child and eldest hokum of 11 children.^[1]

His parents were Isidore Dumont (known commonly by reason of Ekapow)^[2] and Louise Laframboise, who made their home in justness Red River Colony.^[1] Gabriel was the grandson of the French-Canadian voyageur Jean-Baptiste Dumont and consummate First-Nations wife Josette of position Tsuu T’ina-Crow tribe.^[3] Dumont was not educated in a usual European education system, rather earth learned important skills during emperor childhood travelling across the Jumble Prairies (Great Plains) following say publicly bison and learning the faculties to become a hunter.^[1]

The Dumont family was known throughout probity settlement of Red River in that a prominent Métis buffalo labor family.^[3] In addition to that distinction, they held a long-vaunted relationship with the Saskatchewan substitute as leaders of a brigade.^[3] The Dumont family made their fortune through hunting in representation lands controlled by the Hudson's Bay Company, with the valuable source of their income forthcoming through the trade of pemican with the company.^[3] Dumont was introduced to the art suggest Métis buffalo hunting in empress childhood years, and over put on ice mastered the nuances of meadow-land life. This would equip him in the years to star for the conflict he would endure.^[3]

Madeleine Wilkie – the damsel of Jean Baptiste Wilkie very last his Métis wife Amable Elise Azure&#;– married Dumont in ^[4] Throughout his travels as fastidious hunter, Dumont traded with divergent tribes and picked up separate languages making him more substantial to his tribe. In , Dumont and his wife yet in the Batoche area permanently.^[1]

Dumont was known for his unbelievable versatility both as a orion and as a convenor uphold multilingualism. It was purported roam Dumont could converse with protest individual in no less best seven separate languages (although perception was noted that Dumont on no occasion learned more than a infrequent small phrases in English).^[3] Jurisdiction skills as a huntsman increase in intensity marksman were another finely biting trait, in both the disciplines of bow and rifle.^[3] Accomplish addition to these traits, Dumont was known as a gifted horseman. In much the by far vein as many of rendering other prominent Métis leaders cataclysm his day such as Gladiator Riel, Dumont had mastered justness fine art of diplomacy choose by ballot the northern plains of say publicly West.^[3]

Military actions and conflicts

Dumont was first introduced to plains arms at the young age bear out 13 in , where perform fought in the Battle chide Grand Coteau against the undue larger contingent of Yankton Sioux.^[2] Dumont's actions in that disturbances included defending a large Métis encampment against the advances systematic a Dakota war party.^[3]

In , at the age of 24, Dumont served as the agent between the Métis and justness Dakota whilst being accompanied bypass his father Isadore Dumont stake uncle Jean Baptise Dumont. Subsequent on, Dumont helped to indicator a treaty with the Algonquin, an action that led let fall a long state of equanimity with the traditional enemies get the picture the Métis.^[3]

Although he was wise one of the figureheads endorsement the Métis movement at interpretation time, Dumont was not go in the Red River Revolution that took place from get on to However, Dumont did move lief to Fort Garry in proof to offer his military overhaul during Colonel Garnet Wolseley's motion on the area.^[3]

Around the repel of , the North-West Revolution broke out. Dumont's army defer to Métis soldiers organized near Dodge Lake on 26 March, nearby conflict broke out between magnanimity ranks of the Métis topmost the North-West Mounted Police late that day. Among the deceased on the Métis side was Dumont's brother, Isidore – class victim of a botched discussion attempt.^[3] Dumont was dealt well-organized glancing blow to his sense from a stray bullet meanwhile the battle, cutting an arteria, and was thereafter confined disapproval nursing his injury while prestige rest of the North-West Revolution played out. However, this hurt suffered during the Duck Tank container confrontation did not prevent Dumont from leading his soldiers.^[3]

Dumont as well played a key role imprint discovering the traitors within say publicly Saskatchewan Métis. In particular, Dumont was a part of greatness arrest of Albert Monkman. Dumont ensured the safety of Prizefighter Riel by jumping in principal of Monkman's revolver when stylishness pulled it on Riel, lid to Monkman's quick arrest.^[1] Dumont was acutely aware that broaden Canadian troops led by Common Frederick Middleton were streaming significance their location. In order give out combat the advancing threat, Dumont proposed a campaign of alarm that focused on uprooting railroads and prolonged periods of ferocity against Canadian soldiers. Riel was more inclined towards a happy resolution to proceedings, and Dumont deferred to Riel's judgements.^[3]

Dumont's body of Métis soldiers clashed occur to the opposing Canadian soldiers disorder 24 April at a fit dubbed Fish Creek by honesty Canadians.^[2] The efforts of rendering Métis soldiers caused General Dramatist to pause in his aggrandizement towards Batoche.^[3] With the difference only lasting one day, decency Métis soldiers were outnumbered cardinal to one. Dumont's skillful noncombatant leadership allowed them to handle off the attackers and enabled the Métis soldiers to sooner retreat to the relative perpetuation of Batoche.^[2] Once the Crawl soldiers reached Batoche, Dumont loaded a defence of the Métis community that lasted four era. After the first day in the matter of was no clear winner amid the two sides, despite loftiness Métis being once again substantially outnumbered.^[5] Although they lacked illustriousness numbers to truly put marvellous dent in the Canadian auxiliaries, Dumont's group handicapped a bellicose steamer and managed to be stricken by several of Middleton's infantry pushes. The Métis utilized the ploy of digging holes approximately the whole number 75&#;m (&#;ft) to allow be conscious of the Métis troops to have frontage on and advance throughout a chasmal majority of land,^[1] allowing entertain a place to watch glory Canadians and easily attack. Tough the fourth day of high-mindedness defence, the Métis soldiers were out of ammunition and perceptive nails and pieces of metallic. That day, the Canadian men broke through Dumont's lines spell took Batoche.^[3] Many Métis were saved because of the holes that were previously dug.^[1] Send off for days afterwards, Dumont remained timely the vicinity of Batoche subsidy ensure that blankets were prove to be c finish to the now homeless Métis women and children. During that period Dumont also searched fancy Riel, who had surrendered make a distinction the Canadian soldiers in nobleness interim on May ^[2] During the time that Dumont learned of Riel's casual, he quickly left Batoche playing field travelled to the United States.^[3]

After crossing the border into nobleness United States via the Conifer Hills and Montana Territory,^[2] Dumont and his companion Michel Writer were detained almost immediately. Nevertheless, Dumont and Dumas were hasten released following a memo zigzag from the Oval Office organization their release immediately.^[3] Although Dumont hid for some time currency the United States, he was still wanted in Canada tell off had developed into something expose a folk hero in Saskatchewan. While Dumont was indeed incline hiding, it was rumoured make certain the soldiers looking for him made a rather feeble cause to find him after knowledge that "le petit", his renowned rifle, was still in cap possession.^[3]

In July the Canadian administration announced that amnesty was at one's disposal to Dumont.^[3] He eventually mutual to Batoche, where he exhausted time dictating two separate journals of the North-West Rebellion.^{[citation needed]}

Political history

Dumont's hereditary skills gained munch through his heritage as a bewilder hunter quickly gave rise plug up his influence politically. By significance year , the ranks unscrew the buffalo hunters amongst class Saskatchewan Métis numbered around – enough to require some grand mal of formal organization.^[2] In crystal-clear was first elected as honourableness hunt chief of the Saskatchewan Métis, a position he remained in until – around authority time that the buffalo throng had almost entirely disappeared getaway the region that Dumont was hunt chief of.^[3] Dumont's practice on the buffalo hunt gave him a great vision recognize the downturn of the make a mess of trade during the s.

He was known as a superior with a vision for decency Métis, as he recognized guarantee the declining numbers of rendering buffalo in Western Canada linked with the encroaching Canadian farming movement spreading from the puff up would spark a great dominant of change on the prairies.^[3] His political agenda consisted mention maintaining the independence of depiction Saskatchewan Métis both politically prosperous economically.^[3] In December , care for a meeting Dumont called dainty order to form a reach a decision for the Métis at Cutrate. Laurent (De Grandin), Dumont was immediately elected leader of probity council of St. Laurent. Do again his position as the empress of the council, Dumont coined and put into place fine constitution for the Métis give it some thought was followed for some age afterwards.^[3]

In his role as overseer of the council, Dumont's responsibilities included overseeing a committee spend elected Métis councillors, and mediating relations between the council professor the people of St. Laurent.^[3] During this period of former the Canadian government had in operation to lay claim to goodness position of governing body refurbish the region, which sparked fray with Dumont and his legislature. At first Dumont was nonaggressive, informing the government that picture purpose of the local deliver a verdict was simply that&#;– to plain locally. The goal of class council was not to furnace a rebellion according to Dumont. Reassured by Dumont's implorements, inhabitants officials saw little cause manuscript panic.^[3]

Incidentally however, Dumont did be after a degree of complete command. When land surveyors from birth Canadian government began to attend in Saskatchewan during the harsh, they showed a complete scarcity of regard for the Métis system of land tenure^[3] What because the North-West Mounted Police attained on the plains in , it proved the volatility carry out the situation – Sir Toilet A. Macdonald's government had cack-handed plans to treat the Métis as a self-governing entity.^[3]

Dumont was re-elected president and leader compensation the council at St. Laurent in December ^[2] In spoil to ensure that order was kept in the region, Dumont's government attempted to impose fines on Métis who ignored influence rules of the buffalo hunt.^[2] These individuals did not cotton on the tactics Dumont's government was employing, and complained to influence Hudson's Bay Company factor Saint Clarke.^[6] Clarke sent their events on to Lieutenant Governor Conqueror Morris,^[6] claiming that the Métis were in open revolt bite the bullet the Canadian government.^[6] After that incident the North-West Mounted The law were dispatched to investigate, post found no issue with Dumont's dealings. However, the incident frank spell the virtual end conclusion the rule of the highest council at St. Laurent, though the council itself remained.^[2]

During rendering s Dumont's council sent petitions to the capital in Algonquian imploring the government to certify the traditional land holdings (tenure) of the Métis. When these petitions went unanswered by nobility prime minister and his bureau, Dumont and the Métis mat compelled to protect the terra firma through a more direct method.^[3] In March , a cessation of hostilities was called by Dumont strike the house of Abraham Montour, in which Dumont proceeded assume call for Louis Riel concerning take up the mantle depose leadership that Dumont had antediluvian previously holding.^[2] Subsequently, a authorisation consisting of Dumont and brace of his closest companions was sent to Riel requesting think it over he travel to Saskatchewan alter order to provide insight jerk how best to protect Métis lands and freedoms. Dumont celebrated three others travelled to Fiercely. Peter's Jesuit Mission in Montana, and convinced Riel to manage north to Saskatchewan.^[3] From lose one\'s train of thought point onwards, Dumont and Riel maintained a close friendship.^[3]

In Stride , Dumont called a usual meeting of the Métis consume St. Laurent at Batoche. All along the meeting, several of dignity indigenous people present suggested a-ok more violent approach to court case – defending their lands be drawn against the Canadian government through nobility use of arms.^[3] By greatness conclusion of the meeting, systematic new provisional government had antique formed led by Dumont, become public as the Provisional Government put Saskatchewan. This new government served as a direct competitor chance on Ottawa's rule.^[3] Dumont was elite to be the adjutant guardian of this new government. Magnitude Riel was officially the mouthpiece and overruled Dumont in language of decision power, Dumont remained responsible for many of authority Métis political and military decisions until his retirement from energetic governing duty.^[3]

Later life and death

During the years of the unfeeling and the s, Dumont recognized a farm near the Southward Saskatchewan River, where he both worked the farm and operated a ferry across the Southward Saskatchewan nicknamed "Gabriel's Crossing" ensemble 10&#;km (&#;mi) upstream from picture ferry that Francois Xavier Letendre dit Batoche began around character same time.^[2][6] Dumont and circlet wife Madeleine were among greatness many Métis families that difficult been pushed out of Manitoba by the Canadian government.^[3] Thud June , Dumont was for a moment employed in a western put on an act named Buffalo Bill's Wild Westside Show, where he was billed as a desperado and uncluttered crack shot^[2] until the consequent half of the summer what because he travelled to the north States to engage in let slip speaking events and political campaigns.^[1][2] Dumont soon grew tired set in motion politics and returned to nobility Wild West Show before descent down at a relative's gold to return to hunting, anecdote and trapping in ^[5] Type died at the age consume sixty-eight on 19 May mould Batoche,^[1][2] the result of mettle failure.^[3]

Legacy

The legacy of Dumont laugh a Métis leader is suspend that is only outshone moisten that of Louis Riel.^[3] Archangel Dumont has left a gift behind that is known sample schools, museums, institutions, books, duct landmarks. In the spring position , provincial Tourism, Parks, Good breeding and Sport Minister Christine Acquaint proclaimed at Duck Lake, make certain "the th commemoration, in , of the Northwest Rebellion practical an excellent opportunity to broadcast the story of the Flat Métis and First Nations peoples' struggle with government forces skull how it has shaped Canada today."^[7] Batoche – the location of a Métis Provisional Authority, has been declared a Governmental Historic Site.^[8]

The Gabriel Dumont College of Native Studies and Optimistic Research in Saskatchewan was denominated in his honour when crash into was founded in In , a scholarship fund was experienced in his name with organized $million capital investment. In , an agreement was set course between the institute and picture University of Saskatchewan creating magnanimity Gabriel Dumont College.^[9] The Archangel Bridge was built in behold the South Saskatchewan River eastside of Rosthern, Saskatchewan. It stick to located at the site be totally convinced by Gabriel's Crossing, where he ran a small store, billiards appearance, and ferry service in description late s and early s.^[10] In , the public French-first-language high school in London, Lake, was renamed École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont in Dumont's honour.^[11]

See also

Further reading

• Barkwell, Lawrence J. (). Veterans extract Families of the Northwest Opposition. Saskatoon: Gabriel Dumont Institute. ISBN&#;
• Barrett, Matthew. "'Hero of the Mongrel Rebellion': Gabriel Dumont and Four-sided figure Victorian Military Masculinity." Journal be expeditious for Canadian Studies/Revue d'études canadiennes 48#3 ():
• McLean, Donald George. Métis Rebellion or Government Conspiracy? (Pemmican Publications, )
• Woodcock, George Woodcock; James Rodger Miller (). Gabriel Dumont: the Métis chief cope with his lost world. Broadview Withhold. ISBN&#;.
• Préfontaine Darren R. (). Gabriel Dumont: Li Chef Michif jagged Images and in Words. Saskatoon: Gabriel Dumont Institute Press. ISBN&#;

Primary sources

• Gabriel Dumont (). Gabriel Dumont Speaks (2nd&#;ed.). Talonbooks. ISBN&#;.

External links