1. Merger of the HBC and NWC & Life in the Red River Valley

2. Rupert’s Land
In 1870, there were to Native people living in the area between the Great Lakes and the Rocky mountains and were spread over a large area.
Native groups that lived in this region were Ojibwa, Cree, Sarcee, Assiniboine, and the Blackfoot.

3. First Nations in Rupert’s Land
The fur trade changed the life style of First Peoples. Before, the plains people were famous for hunting buffalo; NOW native people worked in the fur trade and stopped hunting the buffalo.
Women usually made pemmican; men trapped animals and traded the furs at local trading posts for metal pots and tools, cloth and guns.
First peoples became dependent on the fur trade.

4. Assiniboia – The Red River Settlement
Location: Manitoba Owner: Lord Selkirk Selkirk is a Scottish nobleman (rich guy from Britain) who felt bad for the crofters (people who rent and farm small pieces of land) who had been thrown off their land by large landowners to raise sheep. Selkirk was able to get a land grant of sq/km in the valley of Red and Assiniboine rivers. Another reason for established a colony in this area was to stop North West Company from competing with the HBC for furs. This area and community was inhabited by Metis and Natives who supplied the North West Company workers with pemmican and other provisions.

5. Lord Selkirk (1771-1820) Real name was Thomas Douglas
Was a liberal democrat (had sympathy for the poor)
Inherited and invested substantial stock into HBC to gain enough power to negotiate a land deal in 1810.

6. Lord Selkirk (1771-1820) Was the 7th son of a Scottish Earl
Younger sons usually prepared themselves for careers in law, the government or the military because it was the eldest son who inherited the estate and titles. Lord Selkirk went to university to study to be a lawyer. While in university became interested in social problems.
Selkirk’s older brothers died unexpectedly and eventually he was left as the heir to the family fortune. He decided to use his family wealth and fortune to help Scottish farmers who were displaced from the lands.

7. What Selkirk was thinking?
If I purchase this land I can help people from my country start a new life!
Settling them in the Red River area could help stop the Nor’Westers who compete against the HBC.
I own the HBC – that will make me rich!!

8. First Settlement
The first group of 80 Scottish settlers arrived at York Factory, a Hudson’s Bay Company fur fort, in the winter of They experienced hard conditions during the winter (cold, poor food, and scurvy). In the spring they set out on the 420 km journey to the Red River Valley in late August (too late to plant crops) and no preparations had been made for their arrival. They suffered through another difficult winter. They survived from the help of the Metis and because they were able to buy food.

9. Metis reaction to Settlers -
Settlers were met with considerable opposition (were not welcome) because the Metis and First people’s lives depended on trade with the Nor’Westers (Traders of the North West Company). People in the Red River area believed these Scottish settlers were sent to stop or disrupt trading practices and to block the trading supplies of pemmican that were being brought to the fur trading posts.

10. Fears of Metis and First Peoples-
Metis and First Peoples didn’t like the arrival of Scottish Settlers because:
They believed they were sent (by HBC) to disrupt their trading practices and way of life. (Metis traded with and worked for the NWC)
They had farmed and worked the land for many generations but had no legal rights to it according to the Canadian government or Hudson Bay Company (documentation)
Were scared that with more settlers arriving
food would become scarce and wouldn’t be
able to trade with the NWC.

11. Pemmican Proclamation
The “Pemmican Proclamation” – settlers were having difficulty finding food so the governor issued a law that stated, “no food could be taken from Assiniboia without a permission from the governor.

12. Seven Oaks Incident –
Leading up to Incident - The Pemmican Proclamation greatly angered the Metis and First people living in the Red River region. They felt that Governor Macdonnell had no right to pass laws in their land. Some believed they should burn and destroy the homes and crops of the Scottish settlers. Others believed they should barricade Fort Douglas until the colonist inside the fort came out desperate for food. Incident - After barricading the fort, Governor in Chief of Rupert’s Land and a group of armed men went out to find what Grant and the Metis were doing. They met at a place called Seven Oaks. Historians are not sure who fired the first shot, but there was a brief battle and one Metis and 20 settlers (including the Governor Semple) were dead.

13. Settlers coming to Red River Area
In 1843, there were 5000 people in the Red River Settlement (1000 were Caucasian and 4000 were Metis)
There was another group of Selkirk settlers who came to the Red River Area, which further angered the Metis.
After confederation (1867) many people began to come to settle in the Red River area.

14. History of the Metis
Metis nation was created when English, Scot, or French fur traders married Native women. Because of these intermarriages, the Metis had a varied background.
Most spoke English or French and at least one native language.
Metis usually worked in the fur trade as labourers, interpreters, trappers or company clerks.

15. Buffalo Hunt
Similar to the Plains people, the buffalo hunt was an important part of the Metis life. It supplied food, material and a way of life for the Metis people. The buffalo hunt was held at least once a year and allowed hunters to prove themselves.

16. Rules of Buffalo Hunt There were strict rules for the buffalo hunt:
No hunting on Sunday
No one was to lag behind, go ahead, or go off in a different direction from the main hunting group.
No one was to start the buffalo running before the order was given
Anyone caught stealing was to be publicly humiliated.

17. Metis Farms
Similar to the French system of farming (Seigneurial System) farmers arranged their land in long strips along the river. The Metis were afraid that if the Red River Settlement was annexed by Canada it would be forced to have the block method of farming.

18. English Grid vs. French Seigneurial

19. Canada’s Interest in Rupert’s Land
The Canadian Government was interested in Rupert’s Land for several Reasons:
Had good farmland
Very little farmland left in Upper Canada.
Canada government wanted to expand westward. “Ocean to Ocean”
There was fear the United States would annex Rupert’s Land soon.
The settlement below Red River area had a population of by

20. Rupert’s Land Act, 1868
The Canadian Government decided to buy Rupert’s Land from the Hudson Bay Company for $ 1.5 million (8,700,000 rmb). The HBC kept their forts and were given land in the west. Rupert’s Land was now called the North-West Territories. The Canadian government had no plans to make any part of North West Territories into a Province.

21. Problems in the Fur Trade

22. Hard times for the Fur Trade…
By 1820, both the HBC and the NWC were suffering financially
The law suits over the Red River colony were very expensive
The beaver is disappearing rapidly
Profits were shrinking
THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FURS IN THE NORTHWEST TO JUSTIFY TWO FULL SCALE TRADING COMPANIES…
The conflict in the Red River Valley was part of a larger CONFLICT between the HBC and NWC for CONTROL of the fur trade.
By 1820, both companies were on the verge of BANKRUPTCY.
There were not enough FURS to supply both companies.

23. Fur Trade Survival Plan
In 1821, the HBC and the NWC decided that the only way to survive was to merge their companies
The new company called
HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY
It had 100 shares in the company

24. The NEW Hudson’s Bay Co. NWC Had 55 of the 100 shares
HBC Had 45 of the 100 shares
British parliament gave the new company control over RUPERT’S Land and continued trading as the HBC had in the past, with the addition of the NWC territory.
The HBC now controlled more than 7 million square kilometers. Over half of present day Canada.
With the 2 companies now united, the new HBC had control of all of Rupert’s Land and the land west of the Rocky Mountains (BC)
A HUGE AMOUNT OF LAND!

25. Shipping News… It was still cheaper to ship furs out of Hudson’s Bay
The old NWC shipping route (Fort William to Montreal) was rarely used after the merger

26. With a merger comes downsizing…
As with most companies when they merge, the HBC reduced it’s workforce in 1821.
First Nations people became even more important to the success of the Fur Trade
Map makers
canoe repairmen
Canoe paddlers
Meat suppliers
Trappers
Translators
Guides
The company DEPENDED even more on the First Nations and Metis people.
The Metis became the primary suppliers of PEMMICAN and labour to the HBC.
The First Nations people were employed as trappers, TRANSLATORS guides and map makers.

27. More Changes….
Because York factory (HBC’s old fort) was better to access, the Fort William to Montreal was abandoned
Instead of Canoes, York boats were the main mode of transportation
The HBC removed several trading posts as well as their employees, although the HBC depended even more on the First Nations and Metis people

28. The HBC gets a new boss…
The new HBC appointed George Simpson as the director of the company
He was in charge of all HBC operations in North America (Head of Operations)
He was a Scottish sugar broker
He knew little about furs when he arrived in 1820, but knew how to run a trading company
The new HBC head of OPERATIONS was George Simpson, a Scottish sugar broker.
He did not know very much about furs or North West Canada, but he knew how to run a COMPANY.

29. George Simpson: a hands- on approach to business
Simpson did not sit behind a desk all day
He spent much of his 40 years as director traveling around his territory
He traveled to as many trading posts as he could
He would arrive without warning and grill his staff if things were not up to his standard
He was called the “Little Emperor” because of his small stature and high expectations
In 1820, he was named Governor-in-Chief of the HBC. He ran the company for the next 40 years.
He was a “hands-on” boss and traveled around a lot to manage the company.
He preferred to arrive without WARNING to see how the trading post was really operating.

30. George gets tired…
After 40 years in charge of the HBC, Simpson returned to England in 1829 to take a leave of absence
He returned a year later, in 1830 with a new wife Frances who was 18 years old
(she was his cousin!)

31. George’s Two Lives…
As was common, George already had a First Nations wife and many Metis children in Canada.
He did not want his new English wife to meet them so he shipped them off before the Simpsons arrived

32. Frances Simpson
When she arrived, Frances announced that she would not socialize with the Metis people
She socially isolated herself- a bad move in a community where people had to depend on each other

33. More bad news for the Simpsons…
Because of Frances’ attitude, George was also isolated from the community and began to become bitter towards his workers
In the spring of 1832, their infant son died and he and his wife left Red River and returned to England.

34. Simpson returns (again…)
Again, Frances and George returned to British North America this time settling in Montreal where the social scene was more to their liking. This occurred after their son died in 1832.
George was knighted in 1841 for his service to the HBC
He continued to travel across his “empire” until he died in

35. The Red River Resistance- 1870
Pages

36. Lots of changes in the 1860’s…
Many people immigrated to the Northwest
Canada became a dominion (a country that rules itself)
The HBC’s fur trade started to decline
Many Canadians moved West to find available farm land

37. Rupert’s Land:

38. The Orange Order
Many of the new Canadian settlers were Protestants and members of the Orange Order:
A violently anti- French, anti- Catholic movement
They were prejudiced against the Metis (surprise!) because they were French, Catholic, and of mixed heritage…

39. The Orange Order
Dr. John
Schultz
Although they were small in number, the presence of the Protestants increased tensions in the Red River a lot.
One of the first immigrants and Orange Order members was Dr. John Schultz, he opened a general store, took over the newspaper “The NorWester”
By the end of the 1860’s he had organized a small group called the Canadian Party which hoped to gain control of the settlement.

40. Economic problems… Crop failures Decrease in bison
Anger in the Red River between these groups continued to increase.
Economic problems in the Red River contributed to rising tensions…
Crop failures
Decrease in bison
Less investment by the HBC

41. Land ownership issues…
Added to this was the fact that:
The Metis never made legal claim to their territory although they had farmed it for years
According to HBC policy, all HBC employees were entitled to their farmland if they lived on it for 3 years
PROBLEM: The Metis believed that if a person cleared the land and farmed it, they had the right to it.
Stop here for the day!

42. Surveyors: Problems at the Red River
Land owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company was sold to Dominion of Canada in 1869.
Surveyors re-aligned all land at Red River into townships.
Arrival of surveyor angered many Métis and Aboriginals:
never asked about joining Canada
Feared loss of language, religion and way of life
feared loss of buffalo herds
Rebellion led by Louis Riel  took over Fort Garry (near Winnipeg)

43. Canada Purchases Rupert’s Land
John A Macdonald and D’Arcy McGee wanted to create a country stretching from sea to sea
The HBC wanted to sell Rupert’s Land because the fur trade was declining and they were finding it difficult to maintain control over such a large territory. It was becoming too expensive to run

44. The negotiations begin…
The HBC and the Canadian government began negotiations to transfer control of Rupert’s Land
No one bothered to consult the people who lived in the Red River Settlement
They reached an agreement in November Rupert’s Land joined the North-Western Territory and the entire area was renamed “The North- West Territories” (see pg 157)

45. The New Canada After this deal, Canada doubled in size.
The HBC received $1.5 million from the government, and million hectares of prairie farmland
Before the deal was finalized, land surveyors arrived in the Red River settlement and started laying out grids for the townships…

46. Métis seigneurial land pattern Township settlement pattern
Rebellion
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47. Problems brewing… THAT SAME YEAR, LOUIS RIEL RETURNED
The land surveyors assumed that the people who lived on the land did NOT own it and had no right to claim it…
THAT SAME YEAR,
LOUIS RIEL RETURNED
TO THE RED RIVER…

48. Louis Riel
Born October 22, 1844, he was the son of Louis Riel Sr. who was the Metis leader for many years.
Died: November 16, 1884

49. Louis Riel
He fought for the Metis as their leader. The founder of Manitoba
He was a literate, well- educated lawyer
He was fluent in both English and French
He was an excellent speaker
He was only 24 years old when he returned to the Red River
Some would also say he was a little nuts

50. The Red River Rebellion
In 1869, the tensions in the red River were very high
Settlers were angry at the HBC and at the land surveyors
Riel formed the Metis National Committee to fight for Metis rights

51. Tensions rise…
That summer, the Metis confronted the surveyors and told them to go back to Ottawa because they intended to govern themselves
Then, several Metis (under Riel’s command) seized Fort Garry and stole the munitions
THE RED RIVER REBELLION HAD BEGUN!

52. Goal of the Rebellion
Riel and supporters simply wanted to ensure that the people of Red River would retain their rights and traditions when it came under Canadian government rule.
They did not want to rebel against Canada…

53. The Provisional Government
Riel set up a Provisional government
They wanted the Red River Settlement to join Canada as its own province- Manitoba
Riel’s Provisional Government

54. The Provisional Government
Why did Riel want a new province?
- He feared that if McDougall took charge of the area, the Metis would be ignored and would lose their rights

55. Metis Way of Life:

56. Metis List of Rights: List of rights include:
Right to approve or reject Federal laws affecting Red River;
Right to have land set aside for schools, roads, and public buildings;
Every male householder over 21 could vote
Riel and the Metis took their List of Rights to Ottawa to be accepted by the Federal Government

57. Metis Symbol:

58. Métis List of Rights
This is the formal List of Rights drawn up by the Provisional Governing Council of the Métis Nation, as the formal conditions for the entry of Rupert's Land as a province into the Dominion of Canada on December 1, 1869.
That the people have the right to elect their own legislature.
That the legislature have the power to pass all laws local to the Territory over the veto of the Executive by a two-thirds vote.
That no act of the Dominion Parliament (local to the Territory) be binding on the people until sanctioned by the Legislature of the Territory.
That all Sheriffs, Magistrates, Constables, School Commissioners, etc., be elected by the people.
A free Homestead and Preemption Land law.
That a portion of the public lands be appropriated to the benefit of schools, the building of bridges, roads and public buildings.
That it be guaranteed to connect Winnipeg by rail with the nearest line of railroad, within a term of five years; the land grant to be subject to the Local Legislature.
That for the term of four years all military, civil and municipal expenses be paid out of the Dominion funds.
4/23/2018

59. This meeting took place in Fort Garry on Wednesday, December 1, 1869.
Métis List of Rights
This is the formal List of Rights drawn up by the Provisional Governing Council of the Métis Nation, as the formal conditions for the entry of Rupert's Land as a province into the Dominion of Canada on December 1, 1869.
That the Military be composed of the inhabitants now existing in the Territory.
That the English and French languages be common in the legislature and courts and that all public documents and acts of the legislature be published in both languages.
That the Judge of the Supreme Court speak the English and French languages.
That treaties be concluded and ratified between the Dominion Government and the several tribes of Indians in the Territory to ensure peace on the frontier.
That we have a fair and full representation in the Canadian Parliament.
That all privileges, customs and usage existing at the time of the transfer be respected.
This meeting took place in Fort Garry on Wednesday, December 1, 1869.
Canadian Government AGREES!
4/23/2018

60. Civil War?
Riel feared that a civil war would begin because the Canadian Party was armed and ready to attack the Metis
To stop this from happening…
Riel led a party of armed Metis to Schulz’s home (headquarters of Canadian Party)
They took 48 of Schulz’s followers to Fort Garry

61. Riel and Macdonald
After this, Riel declared that he was ready to negotiate with the Canadian government
Macdonald refused to recognize Riel and would not negotiate with him
THE METIS DID NOT GIVE UP!

62. Escape from Fort Garry Thomas Scott
Schultz escaped Fort Garry and plotted to free the other prisoners
However, the Metis arrested them again shortly after they escaped
One of the prisoners was a member of the Canadian Party named:
Thomas Scott

63. Thomas Scott
Scott was a particularly out spoken and belligerent member of the Canadian Party
He was strongly anti- Metis and was verbally and physically abusive to the guards in jail
He also threatened Louis Riel’s life

64. Thomas Scott
In response to his behaviour, Riel and his provisional government decided to execute him in March
Although all six members of the firing squad took aim together, they did not kill Scott immediately
The squad director had to shoot him again to kill him

65. Didn’t die right away, so takes a bullet to the head
All I said was that the Métis were a pack of cowards, Riel an idiot, and the Roman Catholic church a place for fools
Didn’t die right away, so takes a bullet to the head
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66. OUTRAGE!
Schultz and the Orange Order made Thomas Scott into a Protestant martyr who had been cruelly murdered by the Metis
Cries for justice and retaliation soon reached the government officials in Ottawa

67. Reaction to the Rebellion
Ontario
Quebec
Believed Scott killed because he was protestant and Canadian
People angry because Ontario papers called Riel traitor
Newspapers demanded execution of Riel
Argued protestants vengeful because Métis are Catholics
$5 000 reward for capture
Claimed government sanctioned revenge
Anti-Métis hatred swept Ontario – Hang him!
Supported Riel called him a hero – Loved him!
Macdonald sent troops to keep peace, but Riel had fled
Only write this down
4/23/2018

68. A Compromise…
In April, Macdonald finally offered a compromise to the Metis:
He did not allow provincial control of public lands
BUT
He did give the Metis hectares of land to recognize their aboriginal title
Aftermath of the Rebellion
Provisional Government worked out deal called Manitoba Act.
July 15, 1870 Manitoba entered Confederation (5th province).
Confederation provided protection for French language, culture, religion.
Received about ha of land for Métis use.

69. Manitoba becomes a province…
On May 2nd,
legislation
confirmed that
Manitoba would
be included into Canada

70. Manitoba- Canada’s 5th Province- Postage Stamp:

71. Riel flees into exile
When government troops arrived in the Red River in August,
RIEL WAS GONE…
He (wisely) had fled to the USA…
All of the member of the provisional government were granted Amnesty- except Riel-
HE WAS BANISHED FROM CANADA FOR 5 YEARS

72. Riel in Exile
Riel would spend the next 15 years in exile in the United States…
HOWEVER,
He would later return to
take up a new cause…

73. The Metis Flee West Riel Flees to the United States
Macdonald sent 1200 troops under the command of Colonel Wolsely.
Military presence also signal to U.S. that Canada claimed West.
Riel feared being arrested for murder of Thomas Scott  exiled to U.S. for 5 years, but ends up staying for 15 years.
Riel was elected as a Member of Parliament for Manitoba and was pardoned for the killing of Scott in 1875 by Macdonald
Many Métis moved farther West as more settlers arrived at Red River.

74. Metis Migration:

75. Riel and the North-West Rebelllion, 1885- Background:
1870’s Metis were pushed further and further into the North-West Territories
Living conditions of the Metis were poor- their lots were bought and re-surveyed by Ottawa; land speculators and new immigrants were buying up land- thus disrupting traditional hunting and farming practices of the Metis
Metis petitioned Ottawa for changes
Macdonald responded with promise and scrip or promissory certificates fpr land and cash
Metis once again set up a Provisional Government

76. Return of Riel:
Metis needed proper leadership- Metis leader Gabriel Dumont traveled to Montana to convince a retired, very religious, teacher Louis Riel to return and lead new Metis negotiations with Ottawa
Reluctantly, Riel agreed to return and lead the Provisional Government of the North-West Territory in negotiating Metis rights with Ottwa
First Nations bands led by Poundmaker and Big Bear also supported the Metis

77. Metis & Native Leaders in the North-West Territories:

78. Riel and the North-West Rebelllion, 1885:
1885, Federal Government, not wanting to negotiate with the Metis, sent out the military to silence Riel and the Metis
Under the leadership of General Middleton, 8,000 soldiers were sent out on the newly created Canadian Pacific Railway to deal with the Metis
So began the rebellion with battles at:
Duck Lake- Metis vs. General Crozier and the NWMP; 12 NWMP dead/5 Metis dead
Frog Lake- 9 total dead
Fish Creek- Dumont vs. Middleton
Batoche- Riel, Dumont, & Metis vs. Middleton & NWMP; 4 day fight; Riel defeated

79. Battle in the North-West:

80. Riel’s Defeat & Trial:
After Batoche, Riel and Dumont escape, but Riel turns himself in
Riel is arrested and tried for treason- taking up arms against the government
1885, Regina, Riel is found guilty by a jury of 5 English-speaking Protestant jurors and is sentenced to hang
November 16th, 1885, Louis Riel is hanged despite protests from French Catholic Canadiens, pleas for a pardon, and a failed bid to plead insane
The of Louis Riel and his role in Canadian history continues: Hero or Traitor? Sane or Insane? Selfless or Selfish?

81. Louis Riel- Hero or Traitor?

82. Louis Riel Day:

83. Louis Riel’s Grave:

84. The End!