Louis Riel hanging T-shirts offend Métis
Last Updated: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | 2:52 PM CT
CBC News
T-shirts being sold online feature an image of Louis Riel with a noose around his neck. (CBC)Manitoba Métis groups are outraged about T-shirts being sold online that feature an image of Louis Riel with a noose around his neck.
The image is accompanied by the text, "Hang with me on Louis Riel Day."
Louis Riel Day is a February holiday in Manitoba.
"I really feel disgusted when I see something like that," said Gabriel Dufault, president of the Franco-Métis Association in Manitoba. "It's obviously the work of one with a troubled mind.
'It's obviously the work of one with a troubled mind.'—Gabriel Dufault, Franco-Métis Association
"It's racist in nature and I don't see any humour in this at all."
Riel was a former MP and leader of the Métis people, and is considered the founder of the province of Manitoba.
He was hanged for treason in 1885 at the age of 41 after leading Métis resistance in Saskatchewan against the Canadian government.
Today, he is regarded as a folk hero by many for his defence of Métis rights and culture.
The T-shirts are being sold online by the American company cafepress.com.
The Manitoba Métis Federation has called the company asking it to stop selling the T-shirts but the company has not yet responded.
Dufault is consulting a lawyer about possible legal action.
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