NORTHWEST REBELLION

Métis and FN in the Northwest, Riel Returns, Métis Bill of Rights

MÉTIS IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

1884 losing patience with Canadian Government

Unclear status under the Indian Act

Not part of the treaty process

Increasing immigration of settlers

Feared loss of rights

MÉTIS WANTED LAND TITLE

The Métis in the Territory did not “receive” land as in Manitoba

The Métis who had land had not received title for that land

FIRST NATIONS STARVING- FN signed treaties

gave up their land and moved to reserves.

- government broke promises about providing food after the buffalo were all but killed off.

- Government refused to feed “difficult people”

    “They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they kept only

one; they promised to take our land, and they did.”

Chief Red Cloud

FIRST NATIONS IN NEED OF HELP

First Nations came to the Métis and settlers for help and aid

The Métis and settlers angry

felt they had to pay for the government’s broken promises.

Both FN and Métis hurting from the loss of the bisonin need of farming assistance that never shows

MÉTIS PETITIONSSent to the government to try to make sure Métis rights are recognized

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AGENDA Surveys told the

government that 6. 4 million hectares of land

= 71 million dollars in government revenue

NO Métis petition was going to stand in the way

MÉTIS TAKE ACTION!

Here we go, the start of the Northwest rebellion

WHERE IS RIEL? After Red River/

Thomas Scott Sent into exile 5 years,

lasted 15 Turned to religion Convinced he is a profit Time in a asylum Settled in Montana Married, 2 kids, teacher

(like me!)

RETURN OF THE KING!

1884 Métis needed a strong and iconic leader

Gabriel Dumont asked Riel to return as the Métis Leader

MÉTIS BILL OF RIGHTS Addressed Métis grievances Written by Riel and William Henry

Jackson (local farmer representative) Included concerns of Métis and non-

Métis people (FN, European farmers) living in the Northwest Territories

Sent to Ottawa Dec 1884 and acknowledged by gov., but rights ignored!

DID THE GOVERNMENT WANT A REBELLION?

Rebellion would prove:the Métis were violent and unruly

Crushing the Rebellion would:Prove the value of and need for the CPRFree up Métis land for settlement Ensure Métis did not gain land rights

Did Clarke promote a rebellion?

•Just like Red River, Riel asked the government for negotiations to protect rights for those living in the prairies…-Métis BILL of Rights 1884-the government ignored and rejected Métis claims

GOVERNMENT PREPARES FOR REBELLIONThe government passed a law making it illegal to sell bullets to the Métis living in the Northwest Territories.

AGAIN RIEL SENDS ANOTHER PETITION-Riel knew the government was in possession of the Métis Bill of Rights-This petition demanded responsible government for the Northwest Territories

GOVERNMENT PREPARES FOR THE REBELLION

HBC Chief Factor and Magistrate Lawrence Clarke became the government’s informant

Wants the Métis goneMade a ton of cash in land speculationFeared lose everything if Métis granted land rights

RIEL AND CLARKE- THE FINAL STRAW! Riel picked Clarke

as their representative

Political connections Riel assumed

sympathetic Clarke went to

Ottawa The only answer the

Métis will receive for their petition was bullets

500 NWMP to arrest Riel

JUSTICE COMMANDS US! March 19 Riel at

Batoche Peaceful solution

impossible Canadian

government determined to make war

“justice commands us to take up arms”

BATTLE OF DUCK LAKE MAY 26 1885

Métis moved on Fort Carlton to seize supplies

NWMP Superintendent Lief Crozier confronted Métis army at Duck Lake

Negotiations failed- 2 Métis shot!

Both sides open fire

MÉTIS VICTORY AT DUCK LAKE the Métis were better

marksmen, and, they knew the land better…they were victorious at Duck Lake.

12 NWMP dead, 25 wounded

Fort Carlton evacuated

EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

Canadian government mobilized 5000 troops

Troops arrive in just 5 days! Entire force in 10 days!- Thanks CPR

General Middleton in charge

BATTLE OF FISH CREEK Dumont knew to

ambush Canadian troops before they reached Batoche

Ambushed at Fish Creek

300 Métis stopped 1600 militia soldiers

CANADIAN ARMY HAS GATLING GUN

RIEL’S MENTAL STATE? Said God himself was

talking to him and telling him he was “the chosen leader of the Métis people”.

During battles, he would find a hill and climb to the top, hold a crucifix over his head to bless the Métis soldiers.

BATTLE OF BATOCHE MAY 9 Métis stronghold-

Batoche attacked by Canadian troops

Had canons and Gatling Gun (modern day machine gun)

Métis short on bullets and used rocks

BATTLE OF BATOCHE Métis defeated- surrender or flee Dumont fled to the US Riel surrendered May 15- thought trial could

bring his cause to attention Death toll 53 Canadian soldiers and volunteers 35 Métis and First Nations

CHIEF POUNDMAKER Refused to join the

NW Rebellion Believed resistance

was futile His people attacked

by Canadian troops at Cut Knife Hill

Arrested for treason, sentenced to 3 years

CHIEF BIG BEAR Refused to join the

NW Rebellion 1885 his people

refused supplies at Frog Lake

Wandering Spirit took 9 hostages- killed

Big Bear convicted of treason- 3 years

Wandering Spirit executed

CHIEF CROWFOOT Refused to join NW

Rebellion Railway dispute Railway building on his

reserve Peaceful negotiations Got compensated with

extra land Willaim Van Horne

awarded him CPR lifetime pass

TRIAL OF RIEL JULY 28 1885 Taken to Regina and

charged with treason

Lawyers wanted Insane defense

Riel wanted to argue Métis forced to fight

Not allowed to testify or question witnesses

6 man jury

FOUND GUILTY OF TREASON AUGUST 1 Found guilty after 1

hour- jury recommended mercy

Law required death penalty

Quebec petitions demanded mercy

Hanged November 16 1885

MÉTIS AND FIRST NATIONS

MÉTIS FIRST NATIONS No land titles, forced to

squat on public land reserved for roads

Half-breed became an insult

Moved into cities to hide ancestry

81 charged with murder or treason- 44 convicted

No translation in court 8 hanged for murder in

Battleford November 17 At the mercy of the

government

HERO OR VILLAIN?