The debate has raged for almost 125 years: was Louis Riel a hero unfairly executed or a treasonous rebel with a God complex?

The man who led two Metis rebellions, founded Manitoba and was elected three times to the House of Commons ended up swinging from a noose.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he'd support a pardon for Riel if it would start healing Canada's relationship with the Metis.

Ignatieff was speaking from the annual week-long Back to Batoche festival in Saskatchewan where tens of thousands of people will celebrate the 1885 Northwest Rebellion.

"The execution of Louis Riel shouldn't have happened," Ignatieff said, calling it "probably the most painful thing in our history."

"And if one day a pardon is a way to come to reconciliation on this, I'd be in favour of it."

Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin has a bill in front of the House to reverse Riel's conviction. He won't call it a pardon because he says Riel did nothing wrong. He also wants a statue of Riel on Parliament Hill, adding Manitoba recognizes him as a father of Confederation.

"For the history books to portray him as a murderer and a traitor is just an injustice. These symbolic things are important," Martin told QMI Agency in an interview last week.

Metis groups are split on the issue, said John Duncan, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indian affairs, and the government doesn't support the bill to clear Riel's name.

Clement Chartier, president of the Metis National Council, agrees a pardon would mean Riel was being forgiven for committing a crime.

"He along with other Metis people fought for legitimate reasons, for the rights of the Metis nation," Chartier said.

Chartier worries if the government pardoned Riel they would use it as an excuse not to deal with other demands.

"The Metis nation is still seeking land base and the right of self-government," he said.

Rod Bruinooge, a Metis Tory MP from Winnipeg, says Riel is a hero to him, but a pardon won't undo what happened.

"As a young Aboriginal politician, Louis Riel was really one of the first Metis politicians to have a big impact in Canada and his approach is something ... I view as being inspiring, the fact that he was not afraid to stand up for his principles and take them to the death."

Winnipeg Sun