Elzéar Goulet
Encyclopedia
Elzéar Goulet was a Métis
leader in the Red River Settlement, which later became the province of Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a supporter of Louis Riel
's provisional government and was killed by Riel's opponents after the suppression of the Red River Resistance.
Two of Goulet's brothers were also involved in Manitoba's early political history: Maxime Goulet
was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
and Roger Goulet held posts in the government.
in the Dakota Territory
in 1859 (Jérôme was the niece of Joseph Rolette, a local merchant and politician). He worked as a mail carrier from Pembina to the Red River from 1860 to 1869 and became an American citizen.
Goulet joined Riel's forces at Upper Fort Garry in 1869 and became second-in-command of the Métis militia under Ambroise-Dydime Lépine
. On March 3, 1870, he served on the tribunal that passed judgement on Thomas Scott
, an Orangeman from Ontario
who was accused of treason against the provisional government. Goulet voted with the majority to impose a death sentence and was one of Scott's escorts to the firing squad the next day. The execution outraged many Ontarians and contributed to the collapse of Riel's government later in the year, when a military expedition under Garnet Joseph Wolseley entered the settlement.
Goulet stayed in Red River after the fall of Riel's government. He was recognized in Winnipeg
on September 13, 1870, and pursued by three men, two of whom were uniformed members of the Wolseley expedition. Goulet escaped on foot, and tried to swim to St. Boniface across the Red River
. His pursuers threw rocks at him, one of which struck him in the head and brought about his death by drowning. Two of his pursuers were identified by witnesses, but no arrests were ever made. It is believed that the authorities were unwilling to prosecute for fear of causing a large-scale uprising. Many Métis believed this response effectively sanctioned violence against their community.
lor Dan Vandal
led a drive for Winnipeg to establish an Elzéar Goulet Memorial Park near the spot where Goulet was killed. The park was officially opened on September 13, 2008. Author George R. D. Goulet
, great-grandnephew of Elzéar, was at the ceremony and described his ancestor as a Métis martyr. His great-grandson Dan McDonald is president of the Mid-Island Métis Nation on Vancouver Island and a member of the Métis Nation of B.C. General Assembly.
The Manitoba Métis Federation
has a local called Le Conseil Elzear-Goulet.
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
leader in the Red River Settlement, which later became the province of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a supporter of Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
's provisional government and was killed by Riel's opponents after the suppression of the Red River Resistance.
Two of Goulet's brothers were also involved in Manitoba's early political history: Maxime Goulet
Maxime Goulet
Maxime Goulet was a Canadian politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1878 to 1886 and was the Minister of Agriculture under Conservative Premier John Norquay....
was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
and Roger Goulet held posts in the government.
Life
Goulet was born at St. Boniface in the Red River Settlement. He received some education there, and married Hélène Jérôme at PembinaPembina, Manitoba
Pembina is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. It is located in the southern part of the province, along the border with the state of North Dakota in the United States. It had a population of 1,712 persons as of the 2006 Census, a decline from 1,769 persons reported...
in the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
in 1859 (Jérôme was the niece of Joseph Rolette, a local merchant and politician). He worked as a mail carrier from Pembina to the Red River from 1860 to 1869 and became an American citizen.
Goulet joined Riel's forces at Upper Fort Garry in 1869 and became second-in-command of the Métis militia under Ambroise-Dydime Lépine
Ambroise-Dydime Lépine
Ambroise-Dydime Lépine was a military leader of the Métis under the command of Louis Riel during the Red River Rebellion of 1869-1870. He was tried and sentenced to death for his role in the rebellion and for the execution of Thomas Scott, but his sentence was commuted by Governor General Lord...
. On March 3, 1870, he served on the tribunal that passed judgement on Thomas Scott
Thomas Scott (Orangeman)
Thomas Scott was an Irish-born Canadian executed by firing squad on March 4, 1870, for plotting against the Provisional Government of the Red River Settlement and its Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia...
, an Orangeman from Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
who was accused of treason against the provisional government. Goulet voted with the majority to impose a death sentence and was one of Scott's escorts to the firing squad the next day. The execution outraged many Ontarians and contributed to the collapse of Riel's government later in the year, when a military expedition under Garnet Joseph Wolseley entered the settlement.
Goulet stayed in Red River after the fall of Riel's government. He was recognized in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
on September 13, 1870, and pursued by three men, two of whom were uniformed members of the Wolseley expedition. Goulet escaped on foot, and tried to swim to St. Boniface across the Red River
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
. His pursuers threw rocks at him, one of which struck him in the head and brought about his death by drowning. Two of his pursuers were identified by witnesses, but no arrests were ever made. It is believed that the authorities were unwilling to prosecute for fear of causing a large-scale uprising. Many Métis believed this response effectively sanctioned violence against their community.
Legacy
In 2007, Winnipeg City CouncilWinnipeg City Council
The Winnipeg City Council is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors.-2006-2010:Council elected in the 2006 election:-2010-2014:...
lor Dan Vandal
Dan Vandal
Daniel 'Dan' Vandal is a politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has represented St. Boniface on the Winnipeg City Council for all but two years since 1995, and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004...
led a drive for Winnipeg to establish an Elzéar Goulet Memorial Park near the spot where Goulet was killed. The park was officially opened on September 13, 2008. Author George R. D. Goulet
George R. D. Goulet
George Richard Donald Goulet is a Canadian Métis best-selling author, historian, public speaker, retired lawyer and prostate cancer survivor.-Life:...
, great-grandnephew of Elzéar, was at the ceremony and described his ancestor as a Métis martyr. His great-grandson Dan McDonald is president of the Mid-Island Métis Nation on Vancouver Island and a member of the Métis Nation of B.C. General Assembly.
The Manitoba Métis Federation
Manitoba Métis Federation
The Manitoba Métis Federation is an aboriginal organization in Manitoba, Canada. Its current president is David Chartrand. MMF is an affiliate of the Métis National Council.-History:...
has a local called Le Conseil Elzear-Goulet.
External links
- Entry in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, written by J.A. Jackson. Information from this source has been incorporated into this article.
- Biography from the Métis Culture & Heritage Resource Centre, Inc.
- Biography from the Manitoba Historical Society