I was also looked at as a villain after I executed Thomas Scott.
Alex: Why did you lead two rebellions against the Canadian government?
Louis Riel: Because I sought to preserve Metis culture and rights because the Metis were slowly going toward Canadian way of life.
Alex: But were you not hanged for treason in 1885?
Louis Riel: Yes I was hanged for there so called "Treason" I was simply trying to regain the culture and rights the Canadian government was destroying!
Alex: Thank you for those answers but I have one more.
Alex: Would you call your self a Canadian hero or villain?
Louis Riel: I would call myself a hero because I helped bring the Metis problem to the eyes of many people because I myself am a Metis which means one of my parents was a aboriginal and one was a European.
These are the sites I used :
http://www.essayforum.com/1_5744_0.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel
http://library2.usask.ca/northwest/background/riel.htm