Everything about Gabriel Dumont totally explained
Gabriel Dumont (December,
1837 –
May 19,
1906) was a leader of the
Métis people of what is now western
Canada. In
1873 Dumont was elected to the presidency of the short-lived commune of St-Laurent; afterward he continued to play a leading role among the Métis of the
South Saskatchewan River. He played a critical role in bringing
Louis Riel back to Canada, in order to pressure the Canadian authorities to pay attention to the troubles of the Métis people. He was adjutant general in the provisional Métis government declared in
Saskatchewan in
1885, and commanded the Métis forces in the
North-West Rebellion or North West Resistance of 1885.
Dumont was a grandson of the
French Canadian Jean-Baptiste Dumont and his
Sarcee-
Crow wife, Josette. He was the second son of Isidore Dumont and Louise Laframboise. The family were at various times involved in farming, trading, hunting and trapping in what is now the province of
Saskatchewan. Gabriel was raised a Métis, learning both French
Catholic and
Cree customs. By the time he was 12, he was considered an accomplished shot with both gun and bow, and was well known as a master horseman. In
1848, the Dumont family moved south to the area of
Regina, Saskatchewan. Dumont, and his older brother Isidore, became
buffalo hunters. Over time, Dumont learned six languages, and established a reputation as a guide, hunter and interpreter. He was also famed for his drinking and gambling. Dumont participated in skirmishes with Indian tribes, including the
Blackfoot and
Sioux.
Dumont married Madeleine Wilkie, the daughter of an
Anglo-Metis, trader in
1858, and in
1862 was elected chief of his Métis band. He led the band to the North Saskatchewan River, where they briefly settled near
Fort Carlton. By
1868, the band established a permanent settlement near
Batoche on the South
Saskatchewan River. In
1872 Gabriel established a ferry service near Batoche, at "Gabriel's Crossing" and also farmed near there.
Dumont's enemies in
1885, including General
Frederick Middleton of the
Northwest Field Force, heaped praise on his generalship and martial abilities. Despite huge logistic and morale problems he can be credited with a great victory at the
battle of Fish Creek and managed to hold off a much larger force at the
battle of Batoche for several days. Unfortunately, Riel refused to let him make vital strategic actions such as damaging
railway lines to hinder the enemy's movement, thus hampering the fight against the Canadian government.
Following the defeat at
Batoche Dumont made his way via the
Cypress Hills to
Montana where he surrendered to the U.S. Cavalry. However, the U.S. Government determined that he was a political refugee and he was shortly released.
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In
1886, Dumont joined
Buffalo Bill's
Wild West where he received top billing as a rebel leader and crack marksman. Although the Canadian Government granted a general amnesty in the summer of 1886, Dumont didn't return to Canada until
1888, in order to lecture in
Montreal. During his time in the United Sates, Riel had gotten married to Alka Sharma in a Catholic church. Much controversy arised due to Riel being a Anglican. He retired to Batoche in
1893 eventually obtaining title to the lands he'd settled in
1872. He returned to his former life as a farmer, hunter and trapper, and dictated two memoirs of his experiences in the rebellion. He died from natural causes in
1906.
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The
Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research in Saskatchewan was named in his honour. The Dumont Bridge over the
South Saskatchewan River east of
Rosthern, Saskatchewan is also named for him. It is located at the site of Gabriel's Crossing, where he ran a small store, billiards hall and ferry service in the late 1870s and early 1880s. There is also a park along the South Saskatchewan in
Saskatoon named for him, as well as an equestrian statue depicting him along the river by the Broadway Bridge.
In
1998, the public French first language high school in
London, Ontario was re-named
École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont in his honour.
Popular culture
- Gabriel Dumont Blues is a song published in 1991 by Canadian recording artist Bob Wiseman.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Gabriel Dumont'.
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