Gabriel Dumont (1837 - 1906)

Born 1 Dec 1837 in Red River Settlement

Ancestors

Husband of Madeleine Wilkie — married 1858 in St. Joseph (now Walhalla, N. Dakota), United States

Died 19 May 1906 at age 68 in St-Isidore-de-Bellevue, Saskatchewan, Canada

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Biography

Gabriel Dumont was a Canadian First Peoples and member of the Metis Nation.

• A leader of of the Métis People, of what is now Western Canada. Elected to the presidency of the short-lived republic of St. Laurent in 1873, and played a critical role in bringing Louis Riel back to Canada. Adjutant General in the Provisional Métis Government declared in the District of Saskatchewan in 1885, and commanded the Métis forces in the protection of the Métis homeland and way of life. None of the prior 22 land and rights petitions where considered by Ottawa, starting in 1840. It was not until the Prince Albert Land Colonization Company was formed and started colonization of Métis Lands that the action was taken with formation of the provincial Government of Saskatchewan to assert the rights of the Métis of the South Saskatchewan River.

• He married Madeleine Wilkie in 1858 at St. Joseph, North Dakota, by Father Joseph Goiffon. She was the daughter of Jean Baptiste Wilkie and Isabelle Azure, born in 1840 at Pembina, ND and died in 1886.

• Adopted Children
• Véronique Marie Dumont - Madeleine's niece - orphaned (age 6) and adopted (age 14): b.17 April 1864, Big Lake, near St-Albert, Alberta; bap. 17 April 1864 -
• Fayant, Alexandré
• Alexis Dumont

Research Notes

Protection of Métis Homeland

While some people would like to see this profile in the Canada Project, many Métis People do not believe this necessary. Gabriel Dumont fought against the Canadian government to preserve a homeland and way of life within Canada. Why did Canada send a military force instead of shaking hands? Canada still has not settled the many outstanding Métis issues. Even though the Métis have tried for more than 150 years to have their rights recognized by the Canadian Government. Dumont had to flee from Canada and seek refuge in America and did not return until amnesty was granted.

Sources

• ameriquefrancaise.org. Gabriel Dumont, the Last of Great Métis Leaders by Denis Combet.
• The Canadian Encyclopedia, Gabriel Dumont
• Find A Grave: Memorial #15095487: Gabriel Dumont
• Macleod, Roderick C. (Last rev. 1994). “DUMONT, GABRIEL”, in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed May 2, 2019.
• metismuseum.ca, Dumont, Gabriel. (1837-1906)
• metismuseum.ca, Heroine of the 1885 Resistance: Madeleine Wilkie Dumont.
• Norman, Emmott (Spring 1992). "The Half-Blood General", in Old West, v. 28, #3, pp.14-19.
• History of Olga, North Dakota and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church : 1882-1982, see image download excerpt about Gabriel Dumont on pp. 132-133 of this document
• Schmuerz, Guigno (March 8, 2017). "The Children of li Exovedes".
• virtualmuseum.ca. Gabriel Dumont (1837-1906): Biography.
• Wkipedia article, Gabriel Dumont (Métis Leader)