"Alexandre-Antonin Tache's career as a pioneer Oblate missionary and bishop coincided with the most momentous events in western Canadian history. He promoted French Catholic colonization in the North West Territories, seeking Quebec's support to maintain the French Catholic presence in national affairs. Tache played a crucial role in the settlement of the Red River Insurrection and later attempted to calm the polemic and passions generated by Louis Riel's execution in 1885." As Bishop, he was influential in the first decade of Manitoba politics, playing an active role in the introduction of civil government. Plagued by declining health in his later years, he continued to address the threats to French Catholic rights and privileges in the West as English-speaking Protestants became the dominant culture. Tache's zealous defence of his flock illustrates the deep divisions in society concerning bilingualism and biculturalism in the young Dominion.