No other person has ever been charged or convicted of "High" Treason in Canada.

Louis Riel's Provisional Government was declared valid by the Parliament at Westminster in London in 1869. Prime Minister John A. MacDonald was forced to recognize Riel's Government and to negotiate with him for the entry of the territory into Confederation. As a legitimate Government, Thomas Scott's conviction was valid. I may not necessarily agree that Scott be executed but the execution was none the less valid. Manitoba became a province and the rest of Rupert's Land then legally became part of Canada. Riel was elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Provencher 3 times. He couldn't take his seat because of the bounty of $5000 placed on his head by the Legislature of Ontario. Riel hid in the US, became a US citizen and was teaching school in Manitoba when in 1885, the Metis and First Nations, who were in starvation on the plains because the government killed off the buffalo herds, got Riel to come the Saskatchewan because they thought he could negotiate successfully for them again, as he had at Red River (in Manitoba) 1869-70. He advocated peace. But Sir John A sent out General Middleton with his troops and his "gattling gun". The Metis tried to defend themselves - they were not the attackers. With no ammunition but some rusty nails, and facing the machine gun (the first time it was ever used anywhere in the world), the Metis fought a loosing battle. Riel surrendered, believing that given his day in court, his arguments would prevail. But he wasn't given a fair trial. The fact is that Sir John A and the Premier of Manitoba contrived to ensure he would be found guilty. Instead of a trial by and judge and jury of 12 of his peers, Riel was taken before a kangaroo court set up in Regina with a newly minted magistrate and a jury of 6 English speaking men brought in for the trail. Riel did not get his trial in French, a constitutional requirement at the time because of the Manitoba Act. Riel could not defend himself, even though he was a lawyer. He was "defended" by lawyers appointed by the Government who refused to mount Riel's defense as he wished it directed. Ottawa had to go back to the 1400's in England to find the legislation under which they could charge him for High Treason. No other person in Canada has ever faced such a charge. Far from being a traitor, Riel was a true Father of Confederation. His story, and the truth begs to be told.