1. Agenda For Today Quiz # 1 Notes  Whisky Traders and the NWMP
Activity 5-4 Analyze a Painting, p. 179 ( as a class)
Socials 10

2. Quiz # 1 How much money was scrip worth? Who are these guys?
What is a land speculator?
Which 2 river systems did the Métis follow when they left the Red River area?
What does it mean to galvanize?
Who was the magistrate in the area where the Métis re- located?
Give 2 reasons as to why life was hard in this new area.
Socials 10

3. Quiz # 1- Answers How much money was scrip worth? $160
Who are these guys? Sir Hugh Allan, M. Rogers, Gabriel Dumont
What is a land speculator? Buys land cheap, sells for a lot
Which 2 river systems did the Métis follow when they left the Red River area? North and South Saskatchewan Rivers
What does it mean to galvanize? to stir into action
Who was the magistrate in the area where the Métis re-located? Lawrence Clarke
Give 2 reasons as to why life was hard in this new area. Bison declining, Lawrence Clarke, harsh winter …
Socials 10

4. Review From Last Day
Rupert’s Land SOLD to the Canadian Government in 1869.
Government sends in Surveyors to chop up the land and make it ready for “white” settlement.
Government issues ‘SCRIP’ to Métis in which they can either exchange it for land (160 acres) or sell it ($160).
Whites won’t allow Métis to buy land and instead buy the scrip off the Métis for a mere $80.
Métis move and follow the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers where the establish a new settlement and continue the bison hunt.
Law and order is enforced through the Laws of St. Laurent, however, HBC Chief Factor Lawrence Clark doesn’t recognize these laws since the land is owned by the Canadian government.
The Métis, once again, find themselves frustrated, starving, and powerless to deal with the Northwest.
Socials 10

5. The Whisky Traders and the NWMP
5.3 The First Nations of the Northwest
The Whisky Traders and the NWMP 
During the 1870s, control of the Northwest gradually passed from the HBC to the Canadian government.
American fur-traders (nicknamed “Whiskey Traders”) in the southwest part of the North-West Territories were causing trouble.
Smaller independent American fur-trade companies were trading cheap liquor to the Natives of the region in return for Buffalo robes and other furs.
The liquor trade led to wide spread alcoholism among the Native peoples resulting in malnutrition, disease and death.
Socials 10

6. 5.3 The First Nations of the Northwest
By 1872, Macdonald decided to police the area in fear that the North-West could be lost to the American Whiskey- Traders. They were afraid they would try to take some territory
The government established the North West Mounted Police in It was both a police force and paramilitary organization (an unofficial military organization)
Its task: 1: drive out the whisky traders and 2: Regain control of the North-West Territories
Socials 10

7. Firewater Whisky Traders trade extremely powerful liquor
Almost pure alcohol 100% (hard alcohol today is 40%)
Made from distilled grain (when liquid is heated until it vaporizes and then condenses)
Molasses and Tobasco sauce were added for
colour and taste which lead to
the name “firewater”
Small quantities of “firewater”
could be deadly
Socials 10

8. The North West Mounted Police
5.3 The First Nations of the Northwest
The North West Mounted Police
The term of service was set at three years.
Its immediate objectives:
to stop liquor trafficking in the North-west;
to gain the respect and confidence of the natives;
to collect customs dues;
and to perform all the duties of a police force.
It took the NWMP a few months to arrive in Saskatchewan, in the meantime …
Socials 10

9. Socials 10

10. Cypress Hills Massacre
Spring of 1874
The Cypress Hills Massacre was one incident that involved whisky traders attacking a party of Assiniboine Natives. The NWMP arrived too late to stop the bloodshed.
Group of Assiniboine were attacked by whisky traders at Cypress Hills (S. Saskatchewan)
Cypress Hills Massacre killed 30 Assiniboine people and resulted in outrage
Socials 10

11. Result of the Massacre
NWMP sent 300 officers to establish control after the massacre
They took too long, the whisky traders had already fled Fort Whoop-Up
First Nations were originally happy with the creation of NWMP – thought they would bring peace
Socials 10

12. Treaties with Native Peoples (179)
By 1870, all the land in the Northwest – With the exception of the Selkirk Settlement – was still held by the aboriginal nations
The First Nations wondered what fate they had under the new Canadian government and wanted to make the best deal possible for their future
In 1870, the Canadian gov’t began negotiating treaties with the Native peoples through the Department of Indian Affairs
Socials 10

13. Treaties with the Native Peoples (179)
Goal of Cdn Gov’t was to open the prairies to European settlement
Not possible until aboriginal title on land was settled
This later became known as the “Indian Problem”
The Department of Indian Affairs:
-created in 1870
-Commissioner W. Simpson
-goals was to have First Nations sign away
their traditional land
-pattern repeated all over prairies
Socials 10

14. Treaties cntd...
Simpson ordered to have treaties signed that would terminate aboriginal title to the land
First Nations peoples knew that no other offer would be made, and accepted the Reserve land.
Socials 10

15. Switch to Residential Schools
Socials 10

16. Partner Question
What do you think would happen if a FN group decided not to sign the treaty offered to them?
Look at the picture on page 179. What do the following symbolize?
Gesture of the farmer
Gesture of the Person on the horse
Family nearby
Proximity of the plow to the First Nations Peoples dwellings
Socials 10

17. First Nations promised to receive farming equipment and instruction (assimilation to European lifestyle) when signed. FN believed both parties would hold up their end of the deal
Reserve land set aside
Canada had no intention of following through with promises of farming assistance
Socials 10

18. Quotes
What points of view are expressed in these quotations? Do you think this led to successful treaty negotiations?
“God intends this land to raise great crops for all his children, and the time has come when it is to be used for that purpose. White people will come here to cultivate it under any circumstances. No power on earth can prevent it.” Wemyss Simpson, 1871
“I have turned this matter of a treaty over in my mind and I cannot see anything in it to benefit my children. This is what frightens me. After I showed you what I meant to keep for a reserve, you continued to make it smaller and smaller… Let the Queen’s subjects go on my land if they choose. I give them liberty. Let them rob me.” Ay-ee-ta-pe-pe-tung, 1871
Socials 10

19. Treaties continued...
Once a Treaty was signed with Cdn Gov’t NWMP escorted First Nations peoples to their reservations
(Map of Treaty Process)
Socials 10

20. What does this image symbolize?
Can you infer anything about the treaty process based on this photograph?
Socials 10

21. Life on Reserve Land Farming equipment never arrived
Standard of living declined rapidly (no food)
Government did not want First Nations to be successful
By 1900, most Natives abandoned the idea of farming
They were now totally dependant on Government for survival.
Socials 10

22. TREATIES Here is what the government did do…
The ploughs that were supplied by the government were poorly made and useless for prairie soil
The oxen that were supplied to pull the ploughs could not pull them
The seeds sent too late in the year so that they were too late to be planted
Farmers were forbidden to use the steam-powered threshing machines required to grind the wheat into flour
A government official was quoted as saying that it was ‘unnatural’ for the First Nations people to use machines, even though it is impossible to grow and harvest without them
If the FN people were successful and had leftover wheat (surplus) after they fed themselves, they were not allowed to sell it.

23. 1876 Indian Act 1) First Nations people would have to live on Reserves
2) All First Nations children would have to attend Residential Schools
3) Traditional ways of self-governance were denied
4) FN People would have to register
Or be considered “non-status”
Most despised Act (Law)
Canadian government has
ever passed and enforced.
Socials 10

24. Reflections:
Did the government have the right to make decisions for Aboriginal peoples?
What effect would the Indian Act have on the identity of First Nations in Canada?
In what ways would the Act have been different if First Nations had been consulted?
Socials 10