Gabriel Dumont SpeaksIn 1903, eighteen years after the "second Riel Rebellion" Gabriel Dumont dictated his memoirs to a group of friends. Dumont's account of the details of his early life, the events leading up to the "Rebellion" and his first person account of the War from the point of view of the defeated Metis military leader are just a few of the revelations worthy of examination in this important document. In addition, Dumont's sheer strength of narrative carries these historic events with a conviction, drama and suspense that only the tradition of oral history can deliver. One of the most troubling stories of this manuscript is Dumont's account of the use of "exploding" rifle bullets by the Canadian army against the Metis. Is this revisionism by Dumont or has the issue been suppressed for the last ninety years? Publicly available for the first time in any language, this manuscript finally opens these and other questions to public debate. |
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already answered arms arrived asked Baptiste Batoche Batoche's battle Battle of Batoche blood bluff brother Buffalo bullets called camp Canadian Carlton church close coming Cree Creek crossed culture dead decided dictation doubt Duck Lake Dumas Edouard enemy English Father fell fight fire Fish followed French front Gabriel Dumont gave give gone hand happened head heard horse hunt Indian Isidore kill knew later leave lived look machine meet Métis move never night once opening oral passed petition police policeman prairie prisoners rebellion returned Riel rifle river scouts sent Short shot side Sioux sleighs soon speak started stayed stop story surrender taken tell thought told took trail tried trying turn Vandal wait wanted wife Winnipeg wood wounded yelled young