Unit 4 – Chapter 4The Northwest to 1870

The events that take place in Unit 4 are a sad reminder of how racial discrimination, poor communication and bad leadership can shape history. What current events can we draw parallel with this period of Canadian history?Who was living in the Northwest

during the years of the fur trade? Why?

What might happened to the Northwest’s social, political and economical structures if there was no more fur trade?

Red River Colony 1811-1821

Thomas Douglas – 5th Earl of Selkirk – had established settlements in the Maritimes and UC, was the director of the HBC.Douglas thought it was costly to ship food to the Northwest, learns that Red River Valley has very fertile land therefore farmers could create their own food and no longer a need to ship it from England.

Image of Lord Selkirk

Failure #1Douglas makes a deal with HBC to give him 300 000 square km – called ‘The Selkirk Grant’.Neither Douglas nor the HBC considered First Nations or NWC in the new settlement idea.1811 – Macdonell (unofficial leader) and 36 labourers (Scottish and Irish) arrive to make preparation for settlers in 1812.Macdonell and co. don’t arrive until Aug 30th, 1812! Selkirk settlement is not settled!

Failure #21812 – Macdonell and co. have to winter in Fort Pembina – otherwise they would starve and/or freeze.1813 – Macdonell and settlers head to Red River to get to work the Selkirk Settlement. plant crops (ill suited crops) but come harvest, not much to harvest… very little yield. Not enough for everyone to survive winter. They head back to Fort Pembina for winter.

Failure #3Whilst at Fort Pembina, more settlers arrive. In 1814 – Macdonell and co plus settlers head back to the Selkirk Settlement at Red River. Crops take and they decide to stay for the winter.Macdonell is worried. Although they have food, he is concerned that there won’t be enough for winter. He issues the ‘Pemmican Proclamation’.

What is pemmican? Why is it so important to the settlers at Red River?

Pemmican Proclamation – forbids the sale or export of Pemmican from the Red River. Métis rely on this for income (trade with NWC) and are furious!Macdonell then orders NWC employees to vacate all their posts in the Red River Valley within 6 months. NWC and Métis are mad! Métis and NWC traders, under the direction of Douglas Cameron – chief trader, retaliate in spring of 1814.

Cameron (NWC) harass settlers by burning down buildings, trampling crops and firing rifles at night. Cameron convinces 133 to leave in 1815. He then arrests Macdonell and tries him in Fort William

Robertson – a HBC trader – convinces settlers back to the Selkirk Settlement at Red River. He makes peace with the Métis and NWC.

1815 – Fall – Robert Semple appointed new Governor of the colony and arrives in Red River with 84 new colonists. Semple is warned by Robertson to remain on guard for possible attacks from NWC and Métis.Semple attacks and burns now Fort Gibraltar – an empty NWC trading post. Métis are convinced that the colonists/settlers intend war.

May 1816 – Métis, led by Grant, raid HBC boats and seize a supply of pemmican – they see it as retribution for the Pemmican Proclamation issued 2 years earlier.Grant and Métis arrive in Red River. Semple sees them as inferior and only able to understand force. How has racial discrimination effected the Selkirk Settlement thus far?

Battle of Seven OaksSemple and 28 men, ride out to confront the approaching Métis group. Métis split into 2 groups: one in front of the colonists and one behind the colonists.Within 15 minutes Semple, 20 colonists and only 1 Métis are killed. This battle results in full-scale conflict between the HBC and its colonists and the NWC and the Métis.

Selkirk travels to visit the colony, along with 95 Swiss mercenaries. He hears about the Battle of Seven Oaks. Angry, he and his army, seize Fort William (NCW post). He takes military control of the area and colonists ‘re-settle’ the land for the 3rd time. 1817 – Selkirk makes a treaty with Ojibwa and Cree nations and gains possession of the RRV (land around Red River and Assiniboine Rivers)

NWC and HBC MergeRR Colony lawsuits between NWC and HBC dragged out for 3 years in England. In 1821 the companies decide to merge for financial reasons and resource issues.

Red River Settlement 1860s

From 1821 – 1860s RRS enjoyed relative peace. 1867-1868 – HBC and the Canadian Government enter into talks about transferring Rupert’s Land to the government. Settlers and Métis heard rumours and became concerned about this… During the HBC’s reign of the land, all settlers were entitled to take up farmland and live on it after 3 years, most never made legal claims to their land.

1868 – Before negotiations were finished, government land surveyors showed up in the RRV to ‘organize’ the land. Surveyors did not recognize the seigniorial patterns as legitimate. They developed a grid system and displaced residents.Louis Riel assumes the role of Métis leader.

Red River Rebellion 1869Causes leading to the rebellion:

Settlers angry at HBC for not consulting them about land sale to GovernmentSettlers angry at surveyors who did not care about seigniorial systemSettlers wondered if Gov’t was trying to take land away

Métis National CouncilRiel forms a band of Métis to confront the surveyorsMNC greets new governor William MacDougall and tell him to go back to Ottawa. They intend to govern themselves.MNC occupies Fort Garry and seize munitions

Métis National CouncilWanted to ensure people of the Red River retained their right and traditions after the region was handed over to the government.Riel sets up a Provisional Government – a temporary government – to discuss the RRS and confederation.December 1869 – Riel and MNC surround Canadian Party headquarter and take Schultz and 48 followers to Forth Garry.Riel informs MacDonald that he is ready to talk. MacDonald refuses to recognize Riel and MNC and won’t negotiate with him.

Schultz escapes and plots to free the other prisoners but is recaptured by the Métis along with some more followers.Thomas Scott is one of these who are captured. He is belligerent and rude and threatens Riel’s life. He is executed by firing squad on March 4 1870. The firing squad did not kill him on the first shot. The leader had to deliver the 2nd, and fatal, bullet.Cries for justice and retribution reach Ottawa

ConfederationMNC’s push for confederation is finally recognized by the government in April 1970.MacDonald did not allow provincial control over public land but did grant 200 000 hectares of land to the Métis.

MacDonald sends a troop of 1200, under Wolseley’s command, to Manitoba. He states:

Do not recognize MNC as a government. They have no powerKeep the peace until power Manitoba is officially a province

Riel’s party is granted Amnesty but Riel is banished from Canada for 5 years. He lives in the USA for the next 15.