Red River Rebellion

The Red River Rebellion

The rebellion/resistance in the Red River Colony from 1869 to 1870 began by the transfer of Rupert’s Land to the new nation of Canada (after the 1867 Confederation). The colony of the Metis inhabited a corner of Rupert’s Land. They feared for the risk of losing their culture and land rights under Canadian control. Led by Louis Riel, the Metis started a rebellion and started a provisional government to negotiate terms for entering Confederation. This led to the creation of Manitoba and the emergence of the Metis leader, Louis Riel.

Key People: Louis Riel

Louis Riel (1844-1885) was the leader of the Metis and the main figure of The Red River Rebellion. He fought for rights of his own people, and eventually his rebellion lead to the creation of Manitoba. Riel led two main Metis governments and was responsible in bringing Manitoba into Canadian Confederation. Riel was executed for high treason in being the leader of the 1885 resistance to the Canadian government on Metis lands. He is known as an outcast by Canadian historians; but, a hero to the Metis and the people of Manitoba. Riel is important to The Red River Rebellion because he led the resistance (along with his provisional government), creating the province of Manitoba and giving a voice to the lost voices of the Metis.

Thomas Scott

Thomas Scott (1842-1870) was an adventurer that opposed to Louis Riel’s government. Scott was a violent supporter of the Protestants. He moved to the Red River Colony in 1869. Thomas was captured and imprisoned multiple times by the Metis. He was executed April 23rd, 1870 by Louis Riel’s approval. His death led to the belief that the Metis group were hostile to Ontario. Thomas Scott is an important figure because his death sparked anger from the English showing the violent side from the Metis as well.

William Mcdougall

William Mcdougall (1822-1905) was the minister of public works in Sir John A. Macdonald’s government in 1867. Mcdougall was responsible for the government's purchase of Rupert’s Land. In 1869, Mcdougall became lieutenant governor of Rupert’s Land, which he held until the creation of Manitoba. The Metis were angered by Mcdougall’s decision to send a team of land surveyors to their territory before a deal with the Hudson’s Bay Company had been made. Mcdougall strongly wanted Manitoba to join Confederation because he felt the colony was lacking population. Mcdougall and his decision is important to the Red River Rebellion because it was one of the key events that caused the resistance.

John Schultz

John Schultz (1840-1896) played a leading role in opposing Riel and his provisional government. He became the leader of the Canadian party which opposed the Metis. In 1869, he became imprisoned by Riel’s government and escaped a year later to Ontario where he planned to counterattack the Metis on Fort Garry. He was upset after hearing the death of Thomas Scott. The Canadian Party wanted to claim the farmlands of the Red River Colony for Canada West. Schultz was a main figure of the opposition of the Metis and played a key role in the troubles that happened between the two groups.

Key Events: Creation of TRR

The creation of The Red River colony and the Hudson Bay Company’s departure

The Red River colony was founded in 1812 by Scottish settlers near the Red Rivers (presently downtown Manitoba). The colony became property of the Hudson’s Bay Company after 1836. The population was mainly made up of the Metis (Half Aboriginal, half European). The Metis were continuously in disagreement with the HBC over trading rights. In the 1860s, after conflicts with different BNA colonies, the company agreed to hand over Rupert’s land (including Red River Settlement) to their people. During negotiation to join Confederation, the Canadian government ignored the pleas from the Metis, acting as if they did not exist.

Louis Riel became the leader of the Metis

Many Metis did not have legal titles to the land they owned. The Metis were afraid of losing their farms to the approaching English population. In 1869, William Mcdougall was appointed as the lieutenant governor of Rupert’s Land. Famously known as a Canadian expansionist, the Metis’ fear grew of losing possession of their territory and rights. In November 1869, Louis Riel emerged as the leader of the Red River Resistance and put a stop to Mcdougall and his fellow Canadian land surveyors from entering the colony. Metis opposition delayed the day when it was agreed upon for the territory to join Confederation on December 1 1869. In January 1870, Rie formed a provisional government to discuss further terms in agreeing to join Confederation.

Thomas Scott's execution

Thomas Scott and some Ontarians were arrested and imprisoned in the winter of 1870 after trying to attack Fort Garry. Provoked by Scott’s opposing taunts, Riel permitted to executing the prisoner after a brief trial by the Metis court. Despite outside pleas from the English, Scott was shot by firing squad. This flamed anger from Protestants in Ontario. After his execution, Canadian authorities refused negotiations with Riel and other rebel leaders. Riel’s major mistake discredited his good work and led to his execution fifteen years later.

Rise of Manitoba

In the following months, negotiations between the Canadian government and the people of Red River started again in the spring. While the Canadian government recognized the “rights” of the people of the Red River colony during their negotiation in Ottawa, this was not the start of success. On May 12 1870, the Canadian government passed the Manitoba Act. Manitoba became Canada’s fifth province. This act stated that Metis land would be protected but all the other land would be property of Canada. These arrangements were mismanaged by the the federal governments and the territory was soon taken by the government. The Metis nation was not happy. Louis Riel and his lieutenants fled into exile in August 1870. They were never forgiven by the Canadian government. The Metis felt so hopeless in Manitoba they they decided to move farther west, starting the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, once again under Louis Riel.

Why Is This Important to Canadian History?

The Red River Rebellion is important to Canadian history because these series of events led to Manitoba joining Canadian Confederation. It also voiced the story of Riel and the Metis’ fight for maintaining their culture and land rights under control of the Canadian government. If Riel had never started the resistance and gone to negotiate with the government, there would never have been the conclusion to create the province of Manitoba. Louis Riel was known as a hero to the Metis, but an outlaw to the Canadian government. Some have even called him insane for his ambition towards his people. However, I believe Riel only wanted one thing for his people; equality. Canada was unfair and ignorant towards the Metis during the trading of Rupert’s Land. They acted as if the group of people were non-existent. The Metis had no voice of their opinions until Louis Riel stepped up as their leader. While it was wrong of him to execute Scott, I believe Riel was nowhere close to insanity. Riel was strongly determined and devoted to fight for his people and their rights. This resistance led to a stronger Canada (knowing our faults to the Metis) and Louis Riel’s story to becoming one of the “Fathers of Confederation”.