Elzéar Goulet was an important participant in the founding of Manitoba. He was born November 18, 1836, in Saint-Boniface, the son of Alexis Goulet and Josephte Siveright. The Goulet family descended from voyageurs who had travelled west with LaVérendrye. Two of his brothers, Maxime and Roger Goulet both held important political positions in the province. Elzéar was, for nearly ten years, the mail carrier between Pembina and the Red River settlement. In October 1869, mail deliveries were interrupted when La Barrière was erected on the La Salle River. Elzéar was made one of the captains who served under Ambroise Lépine. Goulet soon became Lépine's right hand man. He was one of seven councillors called upon on the evening of March 3rd, 1870 to decide the fate of Thomas Scott. On September 13 1870, Goulet was on the west side of the river, in what is now Winnipeg when he was recognized as one of Riel's men. He was chased by a group of soldiers and civilians. Being a peaceful man he wanted to avert a fight and tried to escape. Although Goulet had a pistol on him, he chose not to use it. When he neared the banks of the Red River, he jumped in attempting to swim to the other side, hoping to evade the mob. They pelted him with stones, whether to kill him or not is unknown, but one did manage to strike him on the head. As he lost consciousness, he drowned in the river and became a martyr for the cause of the Metis people.
Elzéar Goulet was an important participant in the founding of Manitoba. He was born November 18, 1836, in Saint-Boniface, the son of Alexis Goulet and Josephte Siveright. The Goulet family descended from voyageurs who had travelled west with LaVérendrye. Two of his brothers, Maxime and Roger Goulet both held important political positions in the province. Elzéar was, for nearly ten years, the mail carrier between Pembina and the Red River settlement. In October 1869, mail deliveries were interrupted when La Barrière was erected on the La Salle River. Elzéar was made one of the captains who served under Ambroise Lépine. Goulet soon became Lépine's right hand man. He was one of seven councillors called upon on the evening of March 3rd, 1870 to decide the fate of Thomas Scott. On September 13 1870, Goulet was on the west side of the river, in what is now Winnipeg when he was recognized as one of Riel's men. He was chased by a group of soldiers and civilians. Being a peaceful man he wanted to avert a fight and tried to escape. Although Goulet had a pistol on him, he chose not to use it. When he neared the banks of the Red River, he jumped in attempting to swim to the other side, hoping to evade the mob. They pelted him with stones, whether to kill him or not is unknown, but one did manage to strike him on the head. As he lost consciousness, he drowned in the river and became a martyr for the cause of the Metis people.
Inscription
Alexis Goulet,
décédée á
le 25 Decembre 1856,
A l'age de 45 ans
de
Josephte Severeight,
son epouse
décédée á St. Boniface
le trois Juin 1891,
a l'age de 75 ans
et de
Elzear Goulet,
son fils
décédée á St.Boniface
le 13 Sep. 1879,
á l'age de 34 ans.
