1. Expansion of Canada – how Manitoba entered Confederation

2. The Red River Settlement

3. Selkirk Settlement
Thomas Douglas, also known as Lord Selkirk, created a settlement for fellow Scots who were losing their land due to enclosure
This settlement was created along the Red River because of its fertile soils
Enclosure – smaller farmers are joined into one larger farm; poorer farmers lose their land – only the rich can afford these large pieces of property
Lord Selkirk was a director of the HBC and was able to convince the company to give him 300,000 km2
Solve 2 problems at once: farmers would have land and the HBC could save food costs by purchasing food from Red River farmers instead of shipping food from England

4. Conflict in the Red River
The Scottish immigrants and the Selkirk settlement created tensions with the NWC and the Metis
Selkirk settlers were facing starvation so food was not allowed to leave the region, impacting Metis trade and relations with the NWC
This resulted in raids, harassment and eventually a violent clash
Pemmican Proclamation – made by commander of Selkirk Settlement in 1813 (Miles Macdonell); banned the sale and export of pemmican from the Red River
Battle of Seven Oaks (1816) – clash between Metis and Red River colonists with their leader Robert Semple; ended in the deaths of 1 Metis and 21 Red River colonists (including Semple)

5. Development of a community
Between 1821 and 1860, the Red River settlement became a close knit community of Metis, country-born, Scottish colonists, Swiss mercenaries, and employees of the HBC
In 1821, the population was evenly divided amongst Metis, country-born, and European settlers
By 1860, 80% of the population was of mixed ancestry
The economy revolved around the HBC
Scottish: farmers and sold crops to HBC
Metis: farmers, hunted bison, labourers on York boats or at HBC trading posts
Country-born: clerks, teachers, judges, store owners
Red River colony resembled Upper Canada in the early 1800s – isolated, strong sense of community, relied upon each other

6. Due to its isolation, inhabitants of the Red River colony had to be self reliant
Life was physically demanding
Men and women both had important roles in society
Metis women, with their knowledge of traditional medicines, became midwives and health care providers
Limited food and variety in diet
Diet centered around pemmican and bannock

7. Race and Social Class in the Red River Colony
Racism and a social hierarchy developed within the Red River Colony
HBC traders were known to “turn off” their Metis wives and families
Marry European women and bring them over to the colony
However in general, fur trade society was tolerant of racial and cultural differences
This biased attitude was common outside the Northwest/Rupert’s Land in the 19th century; we will see it re-appear when people from Canada West move into the region

8. Change comes to the Red River Settlement

9. #1: New arrivals bring tension
New colonists from Canada West began to settle in the Red River Valley due to population pressure and loss of good farmland
Most of these colonists were Protestant and members of the Orange Order, a violent anti- French, anti-Catholic movement
Their arrival in the region brought racial tension
Showed prejudice towards Metis who they viewed as inferior due to their bicultural heritage

10. John Christian Schultz
Member of the Orange Order
Created the Canadian Party and hoped to gain political control of the colony
Produced the only newspaper in the colony, the Nor’Wester
He used this newspaper to promote hatred of Metis

11. #2: Canada buys Rupert’s Land
With business declining, the HBC agreed to sell Rupert’s Land to Canada in 1869, without consulting those who lived there
Canadian government surveyors came to the Red River before the official transfer
Red River settlers and HBC employees had ownership to the land
Metis believed they owned land they had cleared and farmed, but they had no “official” ownership under the eyes of the Canadian government
Disregarded the seigneurial system of land ownership
John A. Macdonald wanted to create a country “From Sea to Sea” and needed to gain control of Rupert’s Land; Cartier and McDougall were sent to London to negotiate the sale
Concerns of American annexation – they were interested in buying the land as there were already American settlers moving into the area, plus trade between RR colonists and settlers in Minnesota. American had bought Alaska for $7.2 million dollars!
With this deal, Canada doubled in size (Rupert’s Land itself equaled ¼ of the continent!). The HBC sold Rupert’s Land for $1.5 million (Britain forced them to sell it to Canada; they wanted to sell to the US who were offering more money; HBC felt the land was worth $40 million!!!); in exchange, the company received 2.8 million hectares of farmland and the right to continue the fur trade
Equivalent to about 13.7 million pounds as of (about $30 million dollars Cdn)
Land surveyors came in fall 1868 and summer of 1869 before the official transfer in December; didn’t recognize the seigneurial pattern of land ownership; started laying out square townships

12. Standing up for Metis rights
The Metis felt their rights were being ignored
Louis Riel organized a group of Metis to stop the surveying
In October 1869, Riel formed the National Metis Committee – an organization that would support and defend Metis rights in the Red River Valley to the Canadian government
Created the Metis List of Rights
Metis were concerned they and the other RR colonists hadn’t been informed/consulted about the sale of the land; concerned they also wouldn’t be consulted about becoming a province of Canada; wanted their rights to be part of the terms of Confederation (right to land, right to language and religion, right to culture).
Metis took away the chains used by surveyors to measure out plots
The purpose of the National Metis Committee was to bargain with the Canadian government for the lands, language, and religious rights of the Metis people
Metis List of Rights is a compilation of ideas from both French-speaking and English-speaking Metis.
Complete activity on the Metis List of Rights

13. Who governs the region?
John A. Macdonald appointed William McDougall as Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Territories
Riel and the Metis feared that once McDougall, a strong anti-French supporter, had control of the area, he would give governing power to the Canadian Party
Riel set up a provisional government – a temporary government that would maintain order in the region as it was being transferred over and give the people of Red River the power to negotiate entrance into Confederation
Riel and his supporters were not opposed to joining Confederation, as long as the rights of all the people of the Red River were protected

14. When McDougall tried to enter the region, the National Metis Committee told him he was not welcome and should return to Ottawa – they would govern the region
McDougall ignored this demand, entered the region, proclaimed himself governor, then quickly fled
He did this without the support of Macdonald, who had told him to take no action until issues in the region could be resolved
Riel and Committee members occupied Fort Garry (headquarters of HBC in the Red River) and seized ammunition and weapons
Canadian Party had armed themselves to attack the Metis
Riel and his supporters had no intention of rebelling against Canada – they just wanted to ensure the rights of the people in the Red River Valley would be retained

15. How could the Metis govern if Canada owns the region?
McDougall had made a crucial mistake: by proclaiming himself governor of the North-West Territories before it was officially owned by Canada, HBC power and authority in the region ended
However, since McDougall fled soon after this proclamation, there was no official Canadian government presence in the region
Thus, Riel’s provisional government was now in fact the legal government of the area
They had the right to negotiate with the Canadian government
Any action in opposition to their authority would be considered against the law = treason
McDougall enters the RR Valley in November 1869, but Canada doesn’t officially own the area until December 1869
After bullet #2, read quote on p. 158 Horizons 2nd edition
“An assumption of the Government by you, of course, puts an end to that of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s authorities…There would then be, if you were not admitted in the Country, no legal government existing…it is quite open by the Law of Nations for the inhabitants to form a Government…for the protection of life and property, and such a Government has certain sovereign rights…”
~Sir John A. Macdonald to William McDougall November 27, 1869

16. Riel takes action
December 1869 – Riel leads a party of Metis to arrest John Schultz and 48 Canadian Party members; taken to Fort Garry
Macdonald refuses to negotiate with Riel and sends a HBC official to negotiate
In the meantime, Schultz and some of his men escaped from Fort Garry and were plotting to free the other prisoners

17. Escalating violence
Before these men can free any more prisoners, they clash with the Metis and are arrested again
One of these men is Thomas Scott
In prison, he espouses anti-Metis views, verbally and physically abuses his guards, and threatens the life of Riel
Scott was placed on trial for treason and found guilty
He was executed by firing squad on March 4, 1870
Thomas Scott was a land surveyor and member of the Canada Party; was given permission to drive the Metis out of the RR
Louis Riel recommended mercy for Scott; the 6 members of the firing squad didn’t kill Scott instantaneously; the firing squad leader had to come forward to fire the final shot
The execution of Thomas Scott marks the end of the threat of war between the Metis and the Canadian Party

18. Manitoba Act, 1870
A delegation of Metis and Canadian Party members head to Ottawa to negotiate the creation of the province of Manitoba
John Christian Schultz was already in Ontario, describing the death of Thomas Scott and promoting anti-Metis sentiments
This tainted negotiations with Macdonald and the Canadian government
Macdonald refuses to allow provincial control of lands
Grant 200,000 hectares of land for the Metis
Scott was being portrayed as a martyr – wrongfully killed by a violent Metis and an evil Louis Riel; used the botched execution to gain sympathy
French Canada saw Riel as a man who stood up for French rights; English Canada saw Riel as a murderer. John A. Macdonald was put in a difficult situation – he didn’t want to lose support in Ontario and Quebec, but whatever he decided would cause him to lose respect in one of the provinces.
Metis wanted the area to become a province b/c a province has much greater control over its own affairs than a territory
Most of the terms of the Metis List of Rights were included in the Manitoba Act
Manitoba was known as the “postage stamp” province; Canada will have control over the North-West Territories

19. There are growing cries for Macdonald to respond to the violence in the Red River Valley
He sends 1200 militia, under the command of Colonel Wolseley to keep the peace in the region until power has been transferred to the provincial government
Riel and the provisional government could no longer be the legitimate government
Riel, fearing for his life, flees to the US and the Metis are now without their leader
French Canada supported Riel and the Metis – they were standing up for French rights; however English Canada called Riel a murderer
While Macdonald does not want to treat Riel and the provisional government as a legitimate government, they are – even in the words of Macdonald himself
All members of the provisional government are granted amnesty except Riel; he is banished from Canada for 5 years (he will stay down there for 15 years and re-emerge as a defender of Metis rights in the Northwest)

20. Were the events in the Red River Valley between 1869 and 1870 a rebellion or a resistance?
Historically, this time period has been known as the Red River Rebellion (so named in the first version the Horizons textbook). However, revisionist history now describes it as the Red River Resistance (so named in the 2nd version of this textbook).
What do you think is the appropriate description for these events in our history?
Even the text books have different names: the 1st edition calls it the Red River Rebellion, whereas the 2nd edition calls it the Red River Resistance (difference of 10 years between publications)

21. Socials 9 – December 2016 Riverside Secondary
Created by Ms. C. Ross
Socials 9 – December 2016
Riverside Secondary