People of the Northwest People of the Northwest from 1800 to 1860from 1800 to 1860

The Native Peoples of the NorthwestThe Native Peoples of the Northwest

Before European contact, the Before European contact, the Northwest was home to four Northwest was home to four aboriginal nations—the Ojibwa, aboriginal nations—the Ojibwa, the Assiniboin, the Cree, and the the Assiniboin, the Cree, and the Chipewyan. Chipewyan.

These Native groups acted a These Native groups acted a middlemen middlemen (people who act as (people who act as dealers between two parties who dealers between two parties who want to exchange goods) in the want to exchange goods) in the fur trade.fur trade.

Many Native peoples became so Many Native peoples became so involved with the fur trade that it involved with the fur trade that it disrupted their way of life. As disrupted their way of life. As we saw last class, as the we saw last class, as the competition between the HBC competition between the HBC and NWC intensified, Native and NWC intensified, Native trappers tried to keep up with the trappers tried to keep up with the demand for furs.demand for furs.

The Native Peoples of the The Native Peoples of the NorthwestNorthwest

This forced full-time trappers to abandon their This forced full-time trappers to abandon their yearly cycle of fishing, hunting, and preserving yearly cycle of fishing, hunting, and preserving food.food.

The fur trade also caused a real clash of cultural The fur trade also caused a real clash of cultural values. For example, the Native peoples did not values. For example, the Native peoples did not subscribe to the Protestant work ethic of “subscribe to the Protestant work ethic of “work work for work’s sakefor work’s sake.” .” They worked to sustain They worked to sustain themselves and their families.themselves and their families.

The Native Peoples of the NorthwestThe Native Peoples of the Northwest

Contact with Europeans Contact with Europeans also exposed the Native also exposed the Native peoples to diseases. The peoples to diseases. The two most deadly were two most deadly were smallpoxsmallpox and and measlesmeasles. .

An outbreak of smallpox in An outbreak of smallpox in 1780-82 in the region 1780-82 in the region around Hudson Bay killed around Hudson Bay killed off much of the Chipewyan off much of the Chipewyan and Cree populations.and Cree populations.

The Battle for the Fur Trade, The Battle for the Fur Trade, 1800 to 18101800 to 1810

The battle for fur between The battle for fur between the HBC and NWC the HBC and NWC intensified in this period, intensified in this period, as beaver stocks became as beaver stocks became depleted and both depleted and both companies established companies established posts as far inland as BC posts as far inland as BC to gain control of to gain control of untapped resources. untapped resources.

Both companies Both companies sharpened their sharpened their competitive edge by competitive edge by promising more valuable promising more valuable trade goods in exchange trade goods in exchange for furs.for furs.

The NWC and NativesThe NWC and Natives As NWC traders moved deeper into As NWC traders moved deeper into

the Northwest , they began the Northwest , they began wintering in their trading areas and wintering in their trading areas and staying with Native peoples.staying with Native peoples.

A number of fur traders married the A number of fur traders married the daughters of Native families. The daughters of Native families. The NWC encouraged intermarriage as NWC encouraged intermarriage as they felt it would help ensure trading they felt it would help ensure trading loyalty.loyalty.

Wives of fur traders enjoyed an Wives of fur traders enjoyed an improved standard of living and improved standard of living and their lives were generally easier their lives were generally easier than those of most women.than those of most women.

The marriages became important The marriages became important social events as the traders would social events as the traders would pay the father of the intended bride pay the father of the intended bride a sum of money, and would receive a sum of money, and would receive a set of traditional garments in a set of traditional garments in return.return.

HBC and NativesHBC and Natives

The HBC forbade its employees to marry. The HBC forbade its employees to marry.

However, the isolation of the northern However, the isolation of the northern

environment led to cross-cultural environment led to cross-cultural marriages.marriages.

The MétisThe Métis

Initially, persons of French-Native ancestry called Initially, persons of French-Native ancestry called themselves themselves bois brulebois brule (literally, “ (literally, “burnt woodburnt wood”). By ”). By about 1810, they began using the term “Métis” (from about 1810, they began using the term “Métis” (from the French word for “mixed”).the French word for “mixed”).

People with Native and Scottish or native and British People with Native and Scottish or native and British ancestry preferred the term “country-born.”ancestry preferred the term “country-born.”

The Métis usually spoke French and Algonquian, or a The Métis usually spoke French and Algonquian, or a dialect that combined the two languages, and they dialect that combined the two languages, and they were usually Roman Catholic. They developed were usually Roman Catholic. They developed communities near the junction of the Red and communities near the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in the Red River valley.Assiniboine rivers in the Red River valley.

The MétisThe Métis They developed farms that They developed farms that

followed the seigneurial followed the seigneurial pattern, which had been the pattern, which had been the long-standing French custom. long-standing French custom.

Like the Plains Indians, the Like the Plains Indians, the Métis hunted bison. Métis hunted bison.

This was a seasonal event that This was a seasonal event that involved the whole involved the whole community: Métis women, community: Métis women, men, and children would set men, and children would set out across the prairie in Red out across the prairie in Red River carts (a two-wheeled River carts (a two-wheeled cart used on the prairie), cart used on the prairie), traveling many days in search traveling many days in search of the right herd.of the right herd.

The MétisThe Métis The buffalo did not only provide fresh meat and bison hides, The buffalo did not only provide fresh meat and bison hides,

but also all the meat and fat that was required to make but also all the meat and fat that was required to make pemmican.pemmican.

The hunt was a dangerous experience as at times the guns would explode, horses could trip and fall because of gopher holes, and the pointed horns of the bison could cause further injury.

The bison hunt did more for the Métis that simply supply a large The bison hunt did more for the Métis that simply supply a large amount of meat and clothing. It fostered in them a strong sense amount of meat and clothing. It fostered in them a strong sense of community, pride, and discipline. of community, pride, and discipline.

Lord Selkirk’s Land Grant Lord Selkirk’s Land Grant 18111811

Thomas Douglas (Lord Selkirk), was Thomas Douglas (Lord Selkirk), was the director of the HBC in 1811. He the director of the HBC in 1811. He had already established settlements in had already established settlements in the Maritimes and in Upper Canada.the Maritimes and in Upper Canada.

Lord Selkirk learned that the soils in Lord Selkirk learned that the soils in the Red River Valley was especially the Red River Valley was especially fertile. He also knew it was costly for fertile. He also knew it was costly for the HBC to ship food items from the HBC to ship food items from England to feed employees in the England to feed employees in the Northwest. Northwest.

Selkirk figured he could save the Selkirk figured he could save the problems of the Scottish farmers and problems of the Scottish farmers and the HBC by establishing a farming the HBC by establishing a farming colony in the Red River Valley. The colony in the Red River Valley. The farmers would be able to maintain farmers would be able to maintain their way of life in a new land, and the their way of life in a new land, and the HBC could use their produce to supply HBC could use their produce to supply employees at a lesser expense.employees at a lesser expense.

Lord Selkirk’s Land Grant Lord Selkirk’s Land Grant 18111811

In 1811 Selkirk bought enough of In 1811 Selkirk bought enough of Hudson's Bay Company stock to gain Hudson's Bay Company stock to gain control of the company. In order to control of the company. In order to provide a new life for Scottish farmers provide a new life for Scottish farmers back home, Selkirk decided to give back home, Selkirk decided to give them with a place to live in North them with a place to live in North America. A huge area of land was America. A huge area of land was bought from HBC company - 300,000 bought from HBC company - 300,000 square kilometres along the banks of square kilometres along the banks of the Red River in what is now Manitoba.the Red River in what is now Manitoba.

Not everyone was happy about Selkirk's Not everyone was happy about Selkirk's plan. The Red River settlement was part plan. The Red River settlement was part of the land that the North West of the land that the North West Company lived and traded fur on; they Company lived and traded fur on; they thought of it as their own. thought of it as their own.

The Nor'westers were angry. They The Nor'westers were angry. They believed that Selkirk and Hudson's Bay believed that Selkirk and Hudson's Bay Company were bringing the settlers on Company were bringing the settlers on purpose to interfere with their fur trade. purpose to interfere with their fur trade. The Métis were also angry. They were The Métis were also angry. They were worried that the settlers would drive worried that the settlers would drive away the buffalo, which was their away the buffalo, which was their source of food. source of food.

Life in a New LandLife in a New Land The first settlers began arriving in 1811.

When they reached York Factory, it was When they reached York Factory, it was winter. They had to wait until winter was winter. They had to wait until winter was over before they could finish their journey over before they could finish their journey to their new home. While they waited, to their new home. While they waited, they built boats they would need to take they built boats they would need to take them inland to the new colony. them inland to the new colony.

When spring came and the rivers were When spring came and the rivers were thawed, they began their journey. By the thawed, they began their journey. By the time they reached the Red River colony, time they reached the Red River colony, they were tired and weary after such a they were tired and weary after such a long trip.long trip.

The settlers built a fort and called it Fort The settlers built a fort and called it Fort Douglas. By this time, it was already fall. Douglas. By this time, it was already fall. The growing season was already over.The growing season was already over.

This meant that the only food and This meant that the only food and supplies the settlers would have for the supplies the settlers would have for the winter was what they had brought with winter was what they had brought with them. It was extremely difficult to get them. It was extremely difficult to get supplies living so far away from any other supplies living so far away from any other trading post or settlement.trading post or settlement.

Hard Times in the Red River Hard Times in the Red River ColonyColony

The settlers faced starvation during their first winter. They were The settlers faced starvation during their first winter. They were forced to follow the buffalo herds as they headed south. This forced to follow the buffalo herds as they headed south. This was the only source of food. They did not return to the colony was the only source of food. They did not return to the colony until the spring. Even then, their hardships were not over. until the spring. Even then, their hardships were not over.

They tried their best, but the crops were not successful. There They tried their best, but the crops were not successful. There was very little food. In order to help the settlers, the governor was very little food. In order to help the settlers, the governor issued the Pemmican Proclamation that banned the sale and issued the Pemmican Proclamation that banned the sale and export of pemmican from the colony. Instead of helping, this export of pemmican from the colony. Instead of helping, this caused more problems for the settlers. caused more problems for the settlers.

The Nor'westers were very angry with the new law. They needed The Nor'westers were very angry with the new law. They needed to take food, especially pemmican, with them when they went to take food, especially pemmican, with them when they went on their fur trading trips. They were so angry, in fact, that they on their fur trading trips. They were so angry, in fact, that they destroyed Fort Douglas and the buildings around it. This was the destroyed Fort Douglas and the buildings around it. This was the beginning of violent times for the colony. beginning of violent times for the colony.

Trouble in the Red River ValleyTrouble in the Red River Valley When Lord Selkirk heard that Fort When Lord Selkirk heard that Fort

Douglas had been destroyed, he Douglas had been destroyed, he appointed a new governor, Robert appointed a new governor, Robert Semple in 1816. He arrived at the Semple in 1816. He arrived at the Red River Settlement with more Red River Settlement with more settlers. They rebuilt the fort, but settlers. They rebuilt the fort, but the trouble was not over. It was the trouble was not over. It was just beginning. just beginning.

Semple wanted the violence to Semple wanted the violence to end. He believed that he could end. He believed that he could use his authority as governor to use his authority as governor to make the Nor'westers stop make the Nor'westers stop fighting. He decided to read them fighting. He decided to read them a proclamation that prohibited the a proclamation that prohibited the Métis from acting violently against Métis from acting violently against the Red River Settlement. He set the Red River Settlement. He set off with 28 men to command off with 28 men to command them to obey his orders.them to obey his orders.

Battle of Seven OaksBattle of Seven Oaks

With in fifteen With in fifteen minutes, Semple minutes, Semple and twenty of his and twenty of his men were killed by men were killed by the Mthe Méétis. This is tis. This is known as the known as the “Battle of Seven “Battle of Seven Oaks”.Oaks”.

Only one MOnly one Méétis was tis was killed.killed.

Selkirk’s PaymentSelkirk’s Payment In 1817, Selkirk made a In 1817, Selkirk made a

treaty with the local Ojibwa treaty with the local Ojibwa and Cree nations, gaining and Cree nations, gaining possession of the Red River possession of the Red River Valley along both the Red Valley along both the Red River and Assiniboine River. River and Assiniboine River.

His payment for the lease His payment for the lease was 100 pounds of tobacco was 100 pounds of tobacco a year.a year.

He believed he had settled He believed he had settled the disputes between the the disputes between the colonists and the Mcolonists and the Méétis and tis and the NWC.the NWC.