A portrait of Louis Riel.

"As the political leader of the Métis people around Batoche, Riel would actively petition the government of Prime Minister Macdonald on behalf of the Métis. With the Métis concerned about land ownership and the Cree facing starvation, the unrest was not an encouraging signal to prospective homesteaders. When all efforts by Riel to have the issues addressed met with silence, he declared a provisional government and the government responded with troops."