Chapter 8—Conflict in the West

1. Chapter 8—Conflict in the West Social Studies 7

2. Introduction • First Nations and the Metis made up most of the population in Rupert’s Land and all regions west of Canada in the 1800s. As Canada began to grow in size and population, the two groups came into conflict several times. Several events throughout the 1800s contributed to this conflict:

3. Conflict in the West • The Pemmican Proclamation • Governor of the Red River Colony restricts the Metis from selling any meat, fish, or vegetables from the colony—done to keep food in the colony for the Scottish settlers. • Metis see this as a threat to their way of life, begin either driving Scottish settlers out or leaving themselves • The Battle of Seven Oaks • Group of Metis come into conflict with armed colonists outside of Fort Douglas • 1 Metis and 21 colonists die, settlers are found guilty of starting the fight and face arrest and trial • First united Metis stand against settler forces

4. Conflict in the West • The Metis Move West • As the buffalo drop in numbers because of overhunting, the Metis and First Nations move west of Red River in large numbers. • Metis communities are established in Batoche, St. Albert, Cypress Hills, Frog Lake, etc.

5. Conflict in the West • Canadian Interest in Rupert’s Land • Canada, growing in population, looks west to Rupert’s Land to establish new settlements. • Canadians also see this as a way to prevent the Americans from expanding north into the region. • First Nations groups and Metis resent this expansion—they view Rupert’s Land as their territory, and many resist Canada’s expansion west. • From the 1850s on, Canadian surveyors and science teams begin exploring the region to see how well-suited it is for farming and colonizing. In 1869, two years after Confederation, Canada purchases Rupert’s Land from the HBC for $1.5 million. First Nations and Metis again resent not being consulted, as they feel they have claim to the region.

6. The Red River Resistance • As Canada sent surveyors west to Red River to make way for new settlers, Metis in the region prevent the Canadians from developing the land. Louis Riel, who would later become a leader for the Metis, tells the Canadians to leave the colony. • Riel and the Metis attempt to maintain their control over their territory through peaceful means at first • They establish a National Committee of Metis and send a list of demands to the Canadian government • December 1869—the Metis take control over Fort Garry and establish a Provisional Government headed by Riel • The Metis Provisional Government draws up a Bill of Rights to govern the region—ensures bilingualism, Metis and FN land rights, democratic rights for citizens, negotiation of treaties between FNs and the federal government

7. The Red River Resistance • The actions of the Metis were viewed differently by Canadians • Francophones in Quebec mostly supported the Metis’ fight for bilingualism, support for the Roman Catholic faith • Anglophones oppose Metis resistance and violence against Canadian citizens (Metis execution of Thomas Scott), Protestant vs. Catholic rivalry

8. The Manitoba Act • Passed by Canadian government in July 1870 to find a peaceful solution to the problem posed by the conflict with the Metis. • Creates the Province of Manitoba in the area of the Red River colony • Grants Manitoba its own provincial government, allows the province representation in Parliament • Ensures bilingualism, and creates separate publicly-funded Protestant and Catholic school systems • Land provisions are set aside for the Metis • “Unclaimed” land belongs to Ottawa • Riel holds blame for the resistance at Red River (and the death of Thomas Scott), flees the country as troops and police come to Manitoba to “keep the peace.”

9. The Northwest Resistance • Although the Manitoba Act had set aside land for the Metis, the system was inefficient—meaning that many Metis did not receive the land they had been promised. As time went on, the Metis would either a) assimilate into the growing number of Canadian settlements, b) establish their own small, self-governed colonies within Manitoba, or c) move further west. • By the 1880s, several problems faced the Metis and FN groups alike: starvation, a lack of land promised by the Manitoba Act and treaties with the federal government, a lack of food rations from Canada, and Canadian ignorance of repeated requests to fix these problems led to rising tension between the aboriginal groups and Canada.

10. The Northwest Resistance • In 1884, a group of Metis led by Gabriel Dumont and a newly-returned Louis Riel established another Metis Provisional Government at Batoche, in the North-West Territory. They again sent a Bill of Rights that listed their demands (land rights, self-governance, food rations for FNs) to the Canadian government, but no response was heard. • The Metis felt that they must then take up arms to make themselves heard (like they had done at Fort Garry during the Red River conflict). In March of 1885, the Metis began several armed conflicts with the RCMP between Batoche, Frog Lake, and Duck Lake. They were supported by Cree and Dakota First Nations, led by Chiefs Poundmaker and Big Bear. • Despite an early victory at Duck Lake and Frog Lake, the Metis were pushed back to Batoche by the RCMP. After three days of fighting in the area around Batoche, the Metis resistance surrendered. Nearly 300 First Nations, Metis, and Canadians were killed in the conflict.

11. The Northwest Resistance • Louis Riel surrendered to the RCMP and Canadian government. Despite being seen as a hero to the Metis, First Nations, and many in Quebec, he was tried and convicted of treason—found guilty for betraying Canada—and was sentenced to hang by the neck until dead. • After Riel was hanged and other “traitors” were punished, PM Macdonald’s government began to take control over the west. Land scrips were granted to Metis for less land than they had been promised (and were often sold back at a lower price), and existing First Nation reserves (protected under treaties) were reduced in size. This allowed the Canadian government to focus on developing the west by building PM John A. Macdonald’s “great dream”—a railway stretching from coast to coast.