Part 2: Canada After Confederation

•At this time, Canada was a new-born•Conditions were not good for many

citizens•Certain Canadians took a stand to make

major changes to things that could improve their lives. They were being active citizens.

•For example: Nelly McClung

Emerging Identities• The Metis population in the west was growing

quickly

• Many lived in Red River, Manitoba. They made up the demographics of the area: characteristics of a group of people living together

• They were a mix of FN and Europeans – many “white” Canadians held racist views

• The Cree called them “Otipemisiwak” which meant they were their own “bosses”

•In Red River, the demo. was mixed:1.Country born: children of British and FN2.Cree and Anishinabe3.Catholic missionaries: built schools and

churches4.Canadiens: the French5.British HBC employees

Metis Identity

•Created their own language, art, poetry, music, dance, economy, and values

1.Language: most knew how to speak French, English, and various FN

*some also spoke a mixed language of French and FN called “Michif”

2.Economy: fur trading, growing crops, hunting buffalo

3. Music/Art/Dance: Pierre Falcon was a famous poet and songwriter in Red River

4. Food: the Metis ate “pemmican” – a mix of meat, fat, and berries. It would last a long time, making it good for travelling

Conflict…• A man from Scotland named Lord Selkirk bought land from the HBC that was owned by the Metis

• He brought with him a large • group of settlers who had no land• in Scotland

• The Metis had no way to prove they “owned” the land, and began to be scared that they would lose it

Reasons for fighting•Selkirk began fighting with the

Nor’Westers (French fur traders) over land, and buffalo

•The governor even banned the Metis from trading pemmican – a huge part of their economy

•The Metis began fighting back by stealing farm equipment, and scaring Scottish settlers. Many left

Battle of Seven Oaks

•June 1816 – a group of Metis come to a fur-trading fort to confront the Scottish settlers

•After arguing, one settler fired on the Metis. A gunfight broke out

•In the end, one Metis and 21 settlers were dead

Migration West

•Because the HBC was hunting so much buffalo, they were running out for the Metis

•The Metis decided to move West and form new communities

Red River Resistance, 1869

•The West was known as Rupert’s Land, and the Canadian gov’t didn’t think it was useful

•1850’s: gov’t scientists went West, and found out the land was good for farming

•The gov’t began to think it would be good for Rupert’s Land to join Canada – good farmland in the East was running out

P.O.V. on the West

•George Brown-newspaper owner/writer-believed that the West could make Canada

rich•John A. MacDonald-scared that if Canada did not claim the land,

the Americans would•First Nations-did not want to give traditional land to the

gov’t

•In 1869, the Canadian gov’t bought Rupert’s Land from the HBC for $1.5 million

•Now, the West was a part of confederation

•The Metis became very scared that they would be assimilated

•The Metis sent a man named Louis Riel to meet the gov’t surveyors because he spoke English

•He ordered the surveyors to leave immediately

•Although the surveyors left, the Metis knew they would be back

•The Metis then set up a National Committee so they could govern themselves

•Next, they took control of Fort Garry, a fur-trading post

•They set up a provisional gov’t to temporarily run the area and create a new province of Manitoba

•They chose Louis Riel to lead it

•Their first step: they set up their own Bill of Rights – a document which tried to negotiate with the Canadian gov’t and protect the Metis

The Bill of Rights

1. Both French and English would be spoken – and written – in the government

2. The province could create its own laws3. The Metis would own the land4. Officials would be elected by the people5. Treaties would be agreed on for the

First Nations

•Some English groups tried to stop the Metis

•They attacked the Metis, but were captured

•One man, Thomas Scott, threatened Louis Riel. He was executed

•English Canadians were furious•French Canadians in the East supported

the Metis, which created violence between the English and French there