Quebec's Bouchard not able to fill Métis leader's shoes
By R John Hayes
Windspeaker Staff Writer
There are many words for it - foreshadowing, parallelism, repeating the errors of the past. There are also old sayings - "The more things change, the more they stay the same," and "If we fail to learn from history, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again."
Lucien Bouchard, the new premier of Quebec, has done his best to emphasize the similarities between him and Louis Riel, who is now considered a Canadian patriot. Even 25 years ago, it would have been shocking and surprising to find anybody claiming to be anything like Riel.
"It is now time for the Government to take decisive action, and that their first action shall be that orders be issued to hang Riel to the first tree when he is caught; but, if there must be delay, that it shall only be long enough to capture Dewdney and hang the two together." So wrote the town of Wolseley, Man., of the Métis leader and the then federal Indian commissioner in 1885.
Then- Prime Minister John A. Mac Donald's remarked to a friend who had requested clemency for the Métis leader upon Riel being sentenced to hang in 1885: "He shall hang, though every dog in Quebec bark in his favor."
That's a far cry from 103 years later, when Constitutional Affairs Minister Joe Clark moved in Canada's Parliament that Riel be recognized for his "unique and historic role as a founder of Manitoba." Clark went on to praise the Métis leader for "deep devotion to his people and his willingness to pay the ultimate price of his life." Clark said that Canada's willingness to recognize Riel's role in Canadian history is "an indication that we have matured as a nation."
On the other hand, Parliament was celebrating the statesmanlike Riel, who declared a republic centered on Winnipeg, which he planned eventually to turn over to Canada. Riel told his legislature that he was proud of the people of the West for "having trust enough in the Crown of England to believe that ultimately they would obtain their rights." Ignored was the fanatical religious Riel who returned to Canada to lead the Northwest Rebellion, culminating at Batoche, who proclaimed himself to be "the prophet of the New World."
Some comparisons to modern Quebec are obvious. The rebellions against Canada by Riel and Bouchard are both based on linguistic issues, both based on a nationalistic control over the region of the country in which they live, both based at least to some extent on the fear of being overwhelmed - culturally and economically - by the English on the continent, who neither then nor now understand the French at any significant level.
There are parallels between the leaders, too. Both Riel and Bouchard are charismatic figures, viewed by their loyal followers as cult figures. Both have spent a lot of time in the United States, and have had their ideas shaped by the American way of doing things. Both were brought back by lesser men to lead the rebellions, rather like leaders-in-waiting. Prior to the Northwest Rebellion, Riel had lived in Montana for a long time, and was persuaded to return to lead his people by the man who would become his lieutenant, Gabriel Dumont. Bouchard was seduced out of the federalist Progressive Conservative government, the man chosen to lead the new separatist federal party the Bloc Quebecois in 1990, and was later seduced away from federal politics to become prime minister of Quebec.
Bouchard, though, is not a Riel, whatever his followers may see. For one thing, Riel was a servant of his ideals, willing eventually to give his life for his beliefs. Bouchard, however, will never be accused of being governed by ideals.
"Bouchard has never been able to take allegiance to political ideas seriously, so that even if he is not for sale, he can be rented," wrote Peter C. Newman of the Quebec leader in April. "He inhabits a world where only what fuels his ambitions carries the stamp of reality."
Other parallels would be former Quebec prime minister Jacques Parizeau, who was a passionate and idealistic zealot. Or former Quebec prime minister Robert Bourassa, who was torn between his loyalty to Canada and his French nationalism.
In his Red River Rebellion period, Riel was indeed torn between his loyalty to Canada (or Britain) and his nationalistic bent. Late in his career, Riel would have been a shoe-in for Parizeau.
Louis Riel was an enigmatic leader, but a brilliant and enduring one. He was brought back from the United States 15 years after a failed rebellion to lead a second one, and there are few leaders who inspire that kind of loyalty. Napoleon comes to mind.
Lucien Bouchard, on the other hand, is a popular opportunist. While he may want to portray himself as the historical heir to Riel, he's but a pale shadow of the Métis leader.