Frog Lake Massacre
The North-West Rebellion
Battle of Duck Lake
- Took place on April 2nd, 1885
- Took place in the plains of now-Alberta and then-Northwest Territories
- Had taken place because of the mistreatment and hunger of the Cree people
- The Cree traveled to a man named Thomas Quinn’s house and took him and the other white people as prisoners
- Quinn did not oblige to the orders of the Cree and was shot
- Eight more prisoners were shot in the confusion of the shooting of Quinn
- 70 other prisoners were taken
- The men involved in this were executed
- Fought on March 25th, 1885
- It was the first battle of the North-West Rebellion
- Gabriel Dumond had asked Louis Riel if he could gather supplies
- At that time, when North-West Mounted Police Superintendent Leif Crozier was going to fortify Duck Lake, and he was met with the Metis forces along the way
- A battle ensues and both sides take rest afterwards
- The Metis then have another battle and after flanking the federal troops make them retreat
What Was The North-West Rebellion?
Battle of Fish Creek
- A violent, five-month revolt against the Canadian government
- Was fought mainly by Métis militants and their Aboriginal allies in what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta
- The rebellion was eventually defeated by federal troops
- After the 1869 Resistance the Metis felt insecure about their position and feared they would lose their land just as they had before
- Over the years as bison were disappearing and food became limited
- The Metis started sending petitions to Ottawa to request for land titles to secure their land, agricultural support, schools, and a local police force
- Ottawa only ignored their requests and so the uneasiness rose within Metis and Aboriginal minds.
- Fought on April 24, 1885
- General Middleton's forces were trying to go to Batoche as reinforcements
- Dumont had scouts who heard this and tried to get reinforcements to battle them, but they didn’t come
- He then tried to ambush the federal troops but was discovered when Middleton’s troops found tracks on the road
- After, Louis arrives with reinforcements but quickly leaves when he heard that the Metis needed his army at Batoche
- A battle ensues and Dumont only has sixty soldiers against 800
- They keep the troops from advancing for the whole day when reinforcements arrive and Middleton falls back
Battles*
*And A Massacre
What Was Louis Riel's Involvement In The North-West Rebellion?
Who Were The Major People Involved?
The Rebellion
The Canadian Government
- John A Macdonald
- Frederick Middleton
- Leif Croxier
- William Otter
- Louis Riel was in exile in the US
- He was brought back by the Metis to solve their problems
- He told the Metis to plead their case to the government
- He told the Metis to create a petition and a bill of rights
- He was named president of a government created by the Metis
- Louis Riel
- Gabriel Dumont
- Big Bear
- Fine Day
- Poundmaker
- Crowfoot
- Wandering Spirit
John A Macdonald
Louis Riel
Battle of Cut Knife
Gabriel Dumont
- Fought on May 2nd, 1885
- Was a battle that happened between the Cree and the Canadian militia
- The battle happened because Lieutenant-Colonel William Otter of the Canadian Militia Force had acted against orders
- In the morning, Otter’s army had camped behind a hill with the Cree camp on the other side, when a Cree scout had seen them and woken the up Cree
- A battle ensued and the chief, Fine Day sent out groups of warriors, and ambushed the soldiers
- The militia fled, but the Cree did not follow
- This battle marked the last Cree victory in the North-West Rebellion
Battle of Batoche
Historical Thinking
Historical Significance
Historical Perspective
Cause and Consequence
Continuity and Change
- Canadian law was permanently enforced in the West
- The Metis and the other Plains tribes involved were oppressed further by these laws
- The Aboriginal ways of life were threatened too due to the subjugation of the Metis and other Plains tribe
- The Metis and other Plains tribe would never really recover for decades
- If the Metis and Plains tribe had not rebelled, just maybe their culture would have not been oppressed as much and today Aboriginal culture might’ve been more common among First Nations Canadians
- Was fought from May 9th to May 12th 1885
- It was fought by Louis Riel, Gabriel Dumont and the Metis against Major General Frederick Middleton’s army
- A battle ensued where the Metis army used rifle pits to defend Batoche
- On the first day, the Metis were successful but they began to weaken during the second and third days
- The Metis were running out of ammunition
- On the last day, Middleton devised a strategy to take out the Metis
- Their strategy did not work
- But as Middleton was sitting down to eat his lunch, Lieutenant Colonel Williams broke through the weakened Metis ranks
- Gabriel Dumont and a few others escaped during the battle
- Those who did not flee, such as Riel, were captured and held for trial
Cause: The insecurity and fear of losing their land again due to more settlers arriving and the government ignoring their requests.
Result: Metis took action and rebelled against the Canadian government thus causing the North-West Rebellion.
Cause: Louis Riel was head of the Métis National Committee and organized the Red River Resistance and the North-West Rebellion, under the new threat of more of the west being taken by settlers. Losing overall in the main scheme, Louis Riel was on trial for high treason and his lawyers failed to persuade the jury and so Riel was guilty and to be hung to death.
Result: Louis Riel’s death and the loss of a leader figure to the Metis
Cause: The North-West Rebellion and the Metis and First Nations involvement
Result: Canadian law was permanently enforced upon the west adding to the subjugation of the Metis and other Plains tribes, and further assimilating natives to British ways taking away more of native culture and lifestyle.
Before: First Nations’ lifestyle and culture were considered to be savage and unethical by most of society
Today: First Nations’ culture and lifestyle is embraced and accepted more widely among society. Efforts have been made to preserve these cultures
Before: Rebellion and opposition against the Canadian government was more common and threatening as Canada was still developing.
Today: Canada has become a strong and independent nation and opposition or rebellion within its society is unlikely and less threatening
Metis and First Nations: Results of North-West Rebellion were terrible and highly unfavourable. They lost more of their land and home, but not only that, with the Canadian law permanently enforced across all of West Canada, they have lost even more rights to their lifestyle and culture.
Canadian government and settlers: The outcome is in the Canadian government’s favour as well as the settlers. The settlers have acquired more space to settle and live on. Also, with this, the development of more colonies would equal more power as a nation for Canada. The Canadian law enforced in the west will help the government maintain control and dominance, more likely to prevent any sparks of rebellion and revolution.