On this day, November 16, in 1885

Louis Riel, a Canadian activist, and leader in the Metis (may-tee) community, was executed by the Canadian government. 15 years earlier, Louis Riel had helped organize and lead the Red River Rebellion of 1869 during which time the Metis people set up a provisional government in direct opposition to the colonial Canadian government. This time, Riel led the North-West Rebellion in which he and his followers took over the town of Saskatchewan in order to resist the westward migration of Canadians and their violent abuse of Indigenous land rights. After his forced surrender, Riel was tried, convicted, and hung to death for treason. (sarcastically…) Humph, treason to who?