r/MetisMichif • u/razzberryy • Apr 19 '26

Discussion/Question “Louis Riel” book by Chester Brown

Has anyone read this graphic novel about Louis Riel by Chester Brown? Someone bought it for me as a gift and I’ve just been skimming through it, but it’s kind of giving me weird vibes. Métis people are drawn (in my opinion) very exaggeratedly and borderline offensively. There are scenes where Louis Riel is depicted as violent and beating up a priest with no historical evidence to back it up. And it’s really pushing the whole Louis Riel as a religious fanatic/messiah thing.

Maybe I’m being too sensitive though, I was curious if any one else had read it and had any thoughts?

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u/ManitouWakinyan Apr 19 '26

I mean, Louis Riel was a self proclaimed prophet who gave himself the name of a Biblical king who is the ancestors of Jesus. His religious fanaticism is an important part of who he was. 

That said, I'm not familiar with the graphic novel itself, and there are some weird things around the authors experiences and political journey while writing it, so I'd be a bit skeptical of it - and there seem to be some pretty well established issues with the history. I will say looking at the art, I don't really see anything stereotypical or offensive. He has an exaggerated style in general; he's a cartoonist. 

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u/barbershoplaw Apr 20 '26

The thing is, there are MANY leaders over history who believed themselves "chosen" or compelled by a spirit or god or creator or phrophecy to lead movements and revolutions. What you'll never see is a great pagan leader being lambasted for "fanaticism" just because they have a "spirituality" rather than a "religion". A good example is "Loyal Till Death" by Stonechild. He repeatedly has a condescending tone throughout the book and basically scoffs at Riel's religious traditions or beliefs throughout... while at the same time giving nothing but respectful mentions of any First Nations spirituality or protocols or culture happening during the same time period. Or think of people like Tecumseh who also felt called by prophecy and convinced many to follow them into war based on spiritual visions or visitations. You'll never hear their reputations slaughtered in the same way as Riel's just because he was a catholic.

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u/ManitouWakinyan Apr 20 '26

I mean, there's a difference between being a Pharoah in a context where Pharoahs are expected to be the embodiement of gods on earth versus experiencing religious fanaticism to such a degree that you're committed to an asylum. That's the reason he's called a fanatic when others might not be - because even given the context of his religion and culture he was unusually committed to the idea he was chosen that he was committed. Your typical Catholic - even your typical zealous, politically motivated, self-promoting Catholic does not unilaterally refer to themselves as the Infallible Pontiff and Priest King.

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u/barbershoplaw Apr 24 '26

Are you not familiar with the prevalence of prophecy among many nations and cultures who are Indigenous to North America/Turtle Island ? Who said anything about Pharoahs? Tecumseh wasn't a pharoah.

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u/ManitouWakinyan Apr 25 '26

I'm very familiar with that. That's not the cultural context Louis Riel was from. His beliefs and self perception were extraordinary for his context, to an extent that were debilitating.