The Metis Rebellion

Definition of Metis

Metis

• One of the 3 Aboriginal groups recognized in Canada
• Mixed with European and Indigenous ancestry
• Originated from Western Canada

Definition of Rebellion

Rebellion

An organized resistance against an authority, or rules involving a group of people that try to voice, or change the existing system.

Red River Resistence

• Outbreak against the Canadian Government in 1869-1870 in the Red River colony.
• Transfer of the territory of Rupert’s Land from Hudson’s Bay Company to the Canadian government.
• Fear that land rights and culture would be taken by the Canadian government
• Made a provisional government

Red River Colony

• Founded by Thomas Douglas in 1812
• Initially populated by Scottish settlers
• Now known as Downtown Winnipeg
• Location of the fur trade for many years
• In1812, it was home to Ojibwe, Cree, and Metis
• by 1836, it was administered by the Hudson’s Bay Company

Conflicts with Hudson's Bay Company

Hudson's Bay Company

• Constant conflicts with Hudson’s Bay Company
• Hudson’s Bay Company was under attack from Canada, Britain, and the United States of America
• Hudson’s Bay Company had agreed to surrender their possession of Rupert’s Land and the North West
• Settlers had aggressive ways which led the Metis to worry for their culture and land rights
• Negotiations of Rupert's Land excluded the Metis as if they didn’t exist

Louis Riel Steps Forward

Louis Riel

• Canadian Government wanted to resurvey the settlement’s river lot farms
• Metis at the time had no clear right to their lands
• Louis Riel showed up as a Metis spokesperson, and he led a group of the Red River militants
• Got support from both the French-speaking and English-speaking Metis communities
• Representative government was formed on Dec 8, 1869

Execution of Thomas Scott

Thomas Scott

• Louis Riel seemed to be in control until he made the mistake of executing a prisoner
• Thomas Scott was an English-speaking settler in Ontario who was against the provisional government of the Metis
• Imprisoned at Upper Fort Gary
• Thomas Scott was executed by a firing squad
• Thomas Scott’s death made the settlers angry

Birth of Manitoba

Manitoba

• Metis provisional government made the territory of Assiniboia
• On 12 May 1870, the province of Manitoba was created through the Manitoba Act
• Manitoba was really small compared to the North West which was taken by the Canadian government
• Metis land rights and agreements were overlooked by the Canadian government
• Soon the Metis were weakened
• Made a violent, and fatal attempt to get their rights in the NorthWest Resistance of 1885

Battle at Duck Lake

• On 25 March 1885, the Metis occupied the community of Duck Lake
• NorthWest Mounted Police were moving toward Duck Lake as well
• Police shot at the Metis, and the battle started
• Battle ended pretty quickly with the police retreating
• 10 police members and 9 police volunteers were killed
• 5 metis were killed, and this was a victory for the Metis

Battle of Fish Creek

• On April 12, 150 Metis and First Nation supporters got ready to defend Fish Creek
• Canadian troops came to Fish Creek on April 23, and the Metis started to attack
• Metis held their ground, and the troops decided to pull back
• The Canadian troops moved to Cut Knife Creek with 300 men,
• 10 members of the Canadian troop were killed, and 45 were wounded, whereas 4 Metis members were killed

Battle of Batoche

• On 9 May, the Canadian troops attacked the Batoche settlement
• Canadians built a camp outside Batoche because they failed to beat the Metis
• Canadians attacked the Metis territories but had no major victories
• on 12 May, Métis were low on ammunition and supplies and their territory was taken
• 8 Canadian troops died and 51 Métis and First Nations were killed

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