BackgroundBackground

Present day WinnipegPresent day Winnipeg Made up of Scottish settlers and MetisMade up of Scottish settlers and Metis Existed on Hudson’s Bay Company Existed on Hudson’s Bay Company

(HBC) land (HBC) land HBC would not allow Red Rive HBC would not allow Red Rive

inhabitants (except Scottish settlers) to inhabitants (except Scottish settlers) to file land claimsfile land claims

1868 – HBC agreed to sell Rupert’s 1868 – HBC agreed to sell Rupert’s Land to the Dominion of CanadaLand to the Dominion of Canada

Rising TensionRising Tension

Settlers were upset that the HBC Settlers were upset that the HBC negotiated a deal without consulting themnegotiated a deal without consulting them

Dominion of Canada sends land surveyors Dominion of Canada sends land surveyors to Red River in the summer of 1869 to Red River in the summer of 1869

Surveyors – no regard to traditional Surveyors – no regard to traditional division of land, marked off land in square division of land, marked off land in square lotslots

Charles Mair – fiercely anti-Metis - Charles Mair – fiercely anti-Metis - headed up the Federal Survey Partyheaded up the Federal Survey Party

LandLand Red River used the Red River used the

Seigneurial system to Seigneurial system to divide up the landdivide up the land

English in Ontario used English in Ontario used a grid system – square a grid system – square lotslots

Metis sought, through Metis sought, through negotiations, negotiations, recognition and recognition and protection of their protection of their rights and landholdingsrights and landholdings

Numerous Metis petitions for land Numerous Metis petitions for land title are ignored by the government title are ignored by the government – told to wait three years– told to wait three years

Metis feared that they would lose Metis feared that they would lose their landtheir land

Obvious ploy to allow Eastern land Obvious ploy to allow Eastern land speculators to secure prime speculators to secure prime locationslocations

Metis ReactionMetis Reaction

October 1869 – land October 1869 – land survey crews moved survey crews moved onto Metis landonto Metis land

Metis stopped the Metis stopped the surveyorssurveyors

Under the leadership Under the leadership of Louis Riel, the of Louis Riel, the Metis formed a Metis formed a “National “National Committee”Committee”

The National Committee decided to The National Committee decided to prevent the governor, sent by Canada, prevent the governor, sent by Canada, from entering Red Riverfrom entering Red River

Governor William McDougall – turned Governor William McDougall – turned back at border by a group of armed back at border by a group of armed MetisMetis

Metis seized Upper Fort Garry – main Metis seized Upper Fort Garry – main base at Red Riverbase at Red River

Angry Canadian settlers prepared to Angry Canadian settlers prepared to attack the fort but the Metis attack the fort but the Metis surrounded them and took them surrounded them and took them prisonerprisoner

Louis RielLouis Riel

““The Canadian The Canadian government has government has no right to make no right to make surveys in the surveys in the territory without territory without the express the express permission of the permission of the people.”people.”

December 8, 1869 – Louis Riel December 8, 1869 – Louis Riel proclaimed a “Provisional Government” proclaimed a “Provisional Government” to negotiate with Canadato negotiate with Canada

Wanted Red River to become a province Wanted Red River to become a province of Canada, not just a territoryof Canada, not just a territory

Canadian government sent men to Canadian government sent men to negotiate with the Provisional negotiate with the Provisional GovernmentGovernment

Metis List of RightsMetis List of Rights

Metis drew up a List of Rights Metis drew up a List of Rights to send to Ottawato send to Ottawa

What do you think was What do you think was included in this List? What included in this List? What type of rights were the Metis type of rights were the Metis were looking to protect?were looking to protect?

Peace DestroyedPeace Destroyed

February 1870 – Canadian February 1870 – Canadian settlers took up arms and settlers took up arms and marched on the Metis at Upper marched on the Metis at Upper Fort GarryFort Garry

One man killed on either sideOne man killed on either side Several Canadians taken Several Canadians taken

prisoner, including Thomas Scottprisoner, including Thomas Scott

Thomas ScottThomas Scott Anti-MetisAnti-Metis Member of the Member of the

Canadian PartyCanadian Party In prison, he In prison, he

publicized his anti-publicized his anti-Metis views, Metis views, physically and physically and verbally abused his verbally abused his guards and guards and threatened the life of threatened the life of Louis RielLouis Riel

Thomas Scott was brought to Thomas Scott was brought to trialtrial

Court found him guilty and Court found him guilty and sentenced him to deathsentenced him to death

““We must make Canada respect We must make Canada respect us” – Rielus” – Riel

Metis executed Scott March Metis executed Scott March 44thth, 1870, 1870

Reaction to Scott’s Reaction to Scott’s executionexecution   French Canadiens believed it was French Canadiens believed it was

an unfortunate but necessary act an unfortunate but necessary act which showed the Métis were which showed the Métis were serious about protecting their rights.serious about protecting their rights.

English Canadians saw things English Canadians saw things differently. To them Scott’s death differently. To them Scott’s death was cold-blooded murder, and they was cold-blooded murder, and they demanded justice. demanded justice.

Canadian government sent troops to Canadian government sent troops to Red RiverRed River

Manitoba Act 1870Manitoba Act 1870

http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/provincial_territorial_politics/topics/1482/http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/provincial_territorial_politics/topics/1482/