FULL PRESS CONFERENCE: Louis Riel’s portrait as Manitoba’s honorary 1st premier unveiled yesterday [Video]

For more on the story:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/louis-riel-first-premier-manitoba-1.7119476

The head of the Manitoba Métis Federation says his nation has reached “the turning point” of its history as Louis Riel’s portrait at the legislature was updated to recognize him as the province’s honorary first premier Monday.

MMF President David Chartrand and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew spent part of Louis Riel Day unveiling the portrait of the Métis leader, who led a provisional government and led negotiations that paved the way for the province’s entry into Confederation in 1870.

“We waited 154 years for this, and we never gave up on correcting the wrong,” Chartrand told guest host Cory Funk on CBC’s Information Radio Monday, before the unveiling.

“This is about correcting history, and the shame and the hardship we have faced.”

Riel was hanged for treason at age 41 in 1885 after leading two Métis resistances, and has sometimes been a controversial figure in Canadian history, but is now widely celebrated for his leadership.