Chapter 9Chapter 9

The Métis Rise UpThe Métis Rise Up

Focus QuestionsFocus Questions

What was the importance of Louis Riel?What was the importance of Louis Riel?

Who’s perspectives on Canada's past Who’s perspectives on Canada's past should be considered?should be considered?

What were some positive & negative What were some positive & negative consequences of the political decisions consequences of the political decisions made during this period?made during this period?

Should Louis Riel have an exhibit in the Should Louis Riel have an exhibit in the new Human Rights museum?new Human Rights museum?

The Red River ResistanceThe Red River Resistance

In October of 1869, the people of Red River In October of 1869, the people of Red River resisted the plan for the Hudson Bay Company, resisted the plan for the Hudson Bay Company, Britain & Canada to transfer their region to Britain & Canada to transfer their region to Canada without consulting them.Canada without consulting them.In April of 1869, Canada paid the Hudson's Bay In April of 1869, Canada paid the Hudson's Bay Company and the British government the Company and the British government the equivalent of $ 1.5 million dollars for control of equivalent of $ 1.5 million dollars for control of Rupert's Land.Rupert's Land.People living in Rupert's Land were not People living in Rupert's Land were not consulted about the arrangement.consulted about the arrangement.The Métis wanted a say in their future, Canada The Métis wanted a say in their future, Canada did not want this.did not want this.

Who Were the People who Lived in Who Were the People who Lived in Red River?Red River?

French & English French & English speaking Métisspeaking Métis

About half of the About half of the population was population was French speaking French speaking Métis.Métis.

CanadiensCanadiens

HBC employeesHBC employees

Scottish & Irish Scottish & Irish colonistscolonists

What Triggered the Red River What Triggered the Red River Resistance?Resistance?

1869 crops had failed, buffalo were 1869 crops had failed, buffalo were declining, & Canada was making plans declining, & Canada was making plans for Rupert’s Land as if nobody else for Rupert’s Land as if nobody else lived therelived thereJuly 1869 surveyors were dividing up July 1869 surveyors were dividing up the land going through farms as if they the land going through farms as if they were not even there.were not even there.This was done 4 months BEFORE the This was done 4 months BEFORE the agreement was even completedagreement was even completed

What Triggered the Red River What Triggered the Red River Resistance?Resistance?

October 1869 Louis Riel would not let October 1869 Louis Riel would not let the surveyors onto his cousin’s farmthe surveyors onto his cousin’s farm

William McDougall was appointed William McDougall was appointed lieutenant –governor of the territory.lieutenant –governor of the territory.

Métis set up a blockade & stopped himMétis set up a blockade & stopped him

The Métis then took control of Ft. GarryThe Métis then took control of Ft. Garry

December 1869 the Métis declared a December 1869 the Métis declared a provisional governmentprovisional government

Louis Riel was chosen as their leaderLouis Riel was chosen as their leader

Riel’s Land ClaimsRiel’s Land Claims

Louis RielLouis RielLouis Riel was born Louis Riel was born at St. Boniface in at St. Boniface in the Red River the Red River Settlement.Settlement.His Mother was His Mother was Canadien & his Canadien & his Father was Métis.Father was Métis.When Riel was 14 he When Riel was 14 he went to college in went to college in Montreal. He was a Montreal. He was a good student.good student.In 1868, Riel In 1868, Riel returned to Red returned to Red River.River.

Louis RielLouis Riel

In the transfer of Rupert's Land from the HBC In the transfer of Rupert's Land from the HBC to Canada, Riel saw that Red River could be to Canada, Riel saw that Red River could be recognized as a province.recognized as a province.This would give the people of Red River the This would give the people of Red River the same rights as other Canadian provinces.same rights as other Canadian provinces.In December 1869, the Métis formed a In December 1869, the Métis formed a provisional government in Red River.provisional government in Red River.In February 1870, the French and English In February 1870, the French and English communities elected 20 representatives each communities elected 20 representatives each to the provisional government, then elected to the provisional government, then elected Riel as president.Riel as president.

Louis RielLouis Riel

Riel had a good Riel had a good physiquephysique

Was a great workerWas a great worker

Was a large manWas a large man

Thomas ScottThomas ScottIn February 1870, In February 1870, when the Métis took when the Métis took over Fort Garry they over Fort Garry they arrested some British arrested some British settlers.settlers.

In March 1870 the In March 1870 the Métis executed one of Métis executed one of the settlers, Thomas the settlers, Thomas Scott.Scott.

Riel could have Riel could have spared his life but he spared his life but he chose not to do so.chose not to do so.

The Manitoba ActThe Manitoba ActThe Government of The Government of Canada and the Canada and the Provisional government of Provisional government of Red River finally Red River finally negotiated the Manitoba negotiated the Manitoba Act.Act.This brought the This brought the settlement of Red River settlement of Red River into Confederation as an into Confederation as an officially bilingual officially bilingual province: the province of province: the province of Manitoba.Manitoba.

The Manitoba ActThe Manitoba Act

The act was a The act was a compromisecompromise between the between the Canadian Canadian government and the government and the people of Red River.people of Red River.

The Manitoba ActThe Manitoba Act

The people of Red River got an elected The people of Red River got an elected government protecting the French language and government protecting the French language and Catholic religion.Catholic religion.This established Canada as a bilingual country.This established Canada as a bilingual country.First Nations also wanted recognition of their First Nations also wanted recognition of their rights to the land.rights to the land.Many Canadians from Ontario wanted freedom Many Canadians from Ontario wanted freedom to move west and to start farming.to move west and to start farming.Canada’s Prime minister, Sir John A Canada’s Prime minister, Sir John A MacDonald, wanted to build a railway MacDonald, wanted to build a railway connecting Canada to British Columbia.connecting Canada to British Columbia.

Canada 1870Canada 1870

Second Métis UprisingSecond Métis Uprising

Métis at South BranchMétis at South Branch

Some Métis from Some Métis from Red River moved to Red River moved to South Branch South Branch communities (North communities (North of Saskatoon).of Saskatoon).Here they farmed, Here they farmed, trapped and hunted trapped and hunted Buffalo, which was Buffalo, which was disappearing.disappearing.Canada now Canada now controlled the west.controlled the west.

Métis at South BranchMétis at South Branch

In 1873, Canada established the North West In 1873, Canada established the North West Mounted Police.Mounted Police.Surveyors began to arrive, and Métis wanted Surveyors began to arrive, and Métis wanted recognition.recognition.Land speculators also arrived, and began to Land speculators also arrived, and began to mark out where the BC Railway would go. mark out where the BC Railway would go. They ignored the people that were already They ignored the people that were already living there.living there.The Métis, Blackfoot & Cree people sent The Métis, Blackfoot & Cree people sent many petitions, but the government many petitions, but the government continued to ignore them.continued to ignore them.

Gabriel DumontGabriel DumontIn 1884, Gabriel In 1884, Gabriel Dumont went to seek Dumont went to seek the help of Louis Riel.the help of Louis Riel.

Riel was living in Riel was living in Montana, where he Montana, where he had become a school had become a school teacher and started a teacher and started a family.family.

Although Riel was Although Riel was living elsewhere, he living elsewhere, he began to help the began to help the Métis.Métis.

Louis Riel ReturnsLouis Riel ReturnsBuffalo had almost disappearedBuffalo had almost disappearedEpidemics of smallpox & other Epidemics of smallpox & other diseases killed manydiseases killed manyThe railway was coming through The railway was coming through the landthe landRiel suggested that First Riel suggested that First Nations, Métis & Whites all work Nations, Métis & Whites all work togethertogetherRiel thought that he could make Riel thought that he could make another deal with the Canadian another deal with the Canadian government like he did in Red government like he did in Red RiverRiverMétis leaders formed an army to Métis leaders formed an army to fight the Canadian troops that fight the Canadian troops that were rumored to be comingwere rumored to be comingChiefs Pitikwahanapiwiyin & Chiefs Pitikwahanapiwiyin & Mistahimaskwa led groups & Mistahimaskwa led groups & took over a trading post & a took over a trading post & a town &, 9 people were killedtown &, 9 people were killed

How Did Canada Respond?How Did Canada Respond?

As it turned out the As it turned out the Canadian government was Canadian government was not sending any troops to not sending any troops to South Branch.South Branch.However, when the railway However, when the railway was built by Batoche, 600 was built by Batoche, 600 soldiers arrived.soldiers arrived.The Battle of Batoche lasted The Battle of Batoche lasted 3 days & over 100 died.3 days & over 100 died.Riel, Pitikwahanapiwiyin & Riel, Pitikwahanapiwiyin & Mistahimaskwa surrenderedMistahimaskwa surrenderedRiel was tried for treason but Riel was tried for treason but executed for killing Thomas executed for killing Thomas Scott.Scott.After these uprisings the After these uprisings the Canadian government made Canadian government made natives have a pass before natives have a pass before they could leave the reserve.they could leave the reserve.

Manitoba School ActManitoba School ActThe rights in the Manitoba The rights in the Manitoba School Act that protected School Act that protected French language & French language & culture didn’t lastculture didn’t lastThe original act has The original act has separate schools for separate schools for Catholic & Protestant Catholic & Protestant people both with people both with government fundinggovernment fundingIn 1890 the government of In 1890 the government of Manitoba abolished Manitoba abolished Catholic (separate) Catholic (separate) Schools & made English Schools & made English the only official languagethe only official language

Demographic ChangeDemographic ChangeWhen the Manitoba Act When the Manitoba Act was negotiated more than was negotiated more than half of the people in this half of the people in this region were Catholic & region were Catholic & spoke French.spoke French.1890 less than 15% of the 1890 less than 15% of the population was Catholic population was Catholic & spoke French.& spoke French.This demographic change This demographic change happened because the happened because the Canadian government got Canadian government got Protestant, English Protestant, English speaking immigrants to speaking immigrants to settle in the west.settle in the west.

Métis Move West AgainMétis Move West Again

The defeat of the The defeat of the Métis at the Battle of Métis at the Battle of Batoche in 1885 Batoche in 1885 triggered a new triggered a new migration westmigration west

Métis left South Métis left South Branch & moved into Branch & moved into what is now Albertawhat is now Alberta

James BradyJames BradyJames Brady was the grandson James Brady was the grandson of Laurence Garneau who of Laurence Garneau who supported Riel during the Red supported Riel during the Red River rebellion & the second River rebellion & the second Métis uprising.Métis uprising.James grew up hearing about James grew up hearing about the Métis fight for their rights.the Métis fight for their rights.Brady was born at St. Paul.Brady was born at St. Paul.In 1896 father Albert Lacombe In 1896 father Albert Lacombe founded this settlement to help founded this settlement to help Métis become farmers.Métis become farmers.In 1910 the settlement was In 1910 the settlement was closed because the government closed because the government said it was not working. said it was not working. Brady & his family left St. Paul Brady & his family left St. Paul but Brady lobbied the Alberta but Brady lobbied the Alberta government & now Alberta is government & now Alberta is the only province where Métis the only province where Métis have claim to the land.have claim to the land.

Review questionsReview questions

Why did the Red River resistance in 1869 Why did the Red River resistance in 1869 & the second Métis uprising in 1885 take & the second Métis uprising in 1885 take place?place?

Why do people have different perspectives Why do people have different perspectives on Louis Riel?on Louis Riel?

How did the Manitoba Act differ from the How did the Manitoba Act differ from the Manitoba School Act?Manitoba School Act?