This year Louis Riel Day is going to be given more recognition in terms of celebrating. This past November, Premier Wab Kinew set in motion a law to right a 153-year-old wrong and declared Louis Riel as Manitoba’s first premier through the Louis Riel Act. The Louis Riel Act will come into force on the day it receives royal assent.
“This is significant because it reaffirms what we have always said, that Louis Riel was our first premier and should be acknowledged as such,” said Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) The Pas Region Vice President Judy Mayer. “This has been coming for over 153 years now and we’ve always known this. It’s historic for us and for the Premier to reaffirm that for us has been huge too.