Louis Riel v Canada: The Making of a Rebel

Frits Pannekoek is an associate professor of heritage studies, director
of information resources at the University of Calgary, and the author of
A Snug Little Flock: The Social Origins of the Riel Resistance of
1869–70.

In the words of its author, Louis Riel v. Canada is “a historical
study of Riel and his times, one which focuses on his lengthy
confrontation—mainly a legal one—with Canada.” Although Bumsted
argues that this approach allows a more dispassionate assessment,
there’s little doubt that he is a Riel apologist.

Bumsted tells a good story set in traditional chronological order. But
those who are well read in the field will find annoying his failure to
offer, or even address, new interpretations. Does he agree with W.L.
Morton whose interpretation of the first resistance is still largely
uncontested? How does he deal with some recent, less than popular
perspectives offered by, for example, Thomas Flanagan? The life and
times approach might have worked if Bumsted had looked at Riel in the
context of the new historiography, which focuses so much on social
issues. But he ignores such topics as the impact that gender issues had
on Canadian reaction to Riel, and he does not draw upon the considerable
work that has been done on Métis identity.

Another disappointment: there are no footnotes, and the
bibliography—which must be accessed through the Web—contains no new
sources other than the occasional graduate thesis.