Charles Nolin (2 March 1838 – 28 January 1907) was a

Métis The Métis ( ; Canadian ) are Indigenous peoples who inhabit Canada's three Prairie Provinces, as well as parts of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the Northern United States. They have a shared history and culture which deri ...

farmer and political organizer noted for his role in the opposition of the North-West Resistance of 1885. He was educated by the bishop Provencher, then worked as a fur trader and a merchant.

Personal life

Nolin was born in 1838 at

Saint Boniface Boniface, OSB ( la, Bonifatius; 675 – 5 June 754) was an English Benedictine monk and leading figure in the Anglo-Saxon mission to the Germanic parts of the Frankish Empire during the eighth century. He organised significant foundations o ...

to Augustin Nolin and Helen Ann Cameron.Barkwell, Lawrence
Nolin, Charles
/ref> Nolin died January 28, 1907, at

Battleford Battleford ( 2011 population 4,065) is a small town located across the North Saskatchewan River from the City of North Battleford, in Saskatchewan, Canada. Battleford and North Battleford are collectively referred to as "The Battlefords" b ...

North-West Resistance (1885)

Through lack of representation in the government of the

North-West Territories The Northwest Territories (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...

and the lack of response to several petitions by the

, the roots of the North-West Resistance began. In 1884, Charles Nolin and

Maxime Lépine Maxime Lépine (c. 1837 – September 16, 1897) was a Métis businessman and political figure from Canada. Lépine joined Louis Riel's provisional government in Red River in 1869. A founding member of the Union Saint-Alexandre, Lépine soug ...

organized a committee that consisted of Métis people and desired to improve the recognition of their rights. Along with his first cousin

Louis Riel Louis Riel (; ; 22 October 1844 – 16 November 1885) was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political leader of the Métis people. He led two resistance movements against the Government of Canada and its first ...

, Nolin initially took part in Riel's Council at Batoche during the resistance. Although, he distanced himself from Riel in terms of advocated taking up arms in order to resolve Métis grievances with the

Canadian government The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the Corporation sole#The Crown, corporation sole, assuming distinct ro ...

. His stance had changed following Riel's estrangement from the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

clerics of the Saint-Laurent mission.

1885 trial

In 1885, the Council of the Provisional government tried Nolin, along with William Boyer. They were put on trial for their actions in the North-West Resistance which were deemed to have been acting against the cause. However, Nolin and Boyer pledged allegiance and were then acquitted of their charges. Although he was Riel's cousin, Nolin testified against him at his trial. His statements and testimonies during Riel's trial, have been said to have contributed to Riel's sentence of death. Nolin opposed Riel in both 1870, and also in 1885.

Political Career after the North-West Resistance

He was elected as the member for Batoche,

Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...

in the 1891 election for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, actively supporting the

Dominion government The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown-in ...

. He was forced out of office a year later by court order.

References

External links

Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research: Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture

Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nolin, Charles 1837 births 1907 deaths Canadian Métis people Members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories Métis politicians People of North-Western Territory People of the North-West Rebellion Pre-Confederation Saskatchewan people