Final answer:
Louis Riel is widely considered the father of Manitoba due to his role in leading the Red River Rebellion and establishing the province while protecting the rights and culture of the Mtis people.
Step-by-step explanation:
The father of Manitoba is commonly recognized as Louis Riel. Louis Riel was a French-Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Mtis people. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government that sought to preserve Mtis rights and culture as the Northwest Territories were being incorporated into Canada. The first resistance was the Red River Rebellion of 1869–1870, which resulted in the establishment of Manitoba as a Canadian province on July 15, 1870. Riel's leadership in the Mtis' quest for justice and recognition makes him an advocate for minority rights, earning him the title 'Father of Manitoba.'