R E S I S TA N C E A N D R E B E L L I O N

LOUIS RIEL

WHERE DID WE LEAVE OFF?

• Transfer of Rupert’s Land to Canada • Families who had lived at Red River for several

generations were left with an uncertain future

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

• William Mcdougall sent a survey team to Red River

• Wanted to establish boundary markers to prepare for immigrants

• Survey crews trespassed on farms and did not inform residents what they were doing• Survey crew only

spoke English

THE COMITE NATIONAL DES METIS

• Andre Nault tried to prevent surveyors from working on his land• When the surveyors ignored him, a group of

Nault’s neighbors (including his cousin, Louis Riel) stepped in.• The group declared that the Dominion of Canada

had no right to survey Red River without permission from its residents• On October 19, 1869- formed the Comite national

des Metis to oppose Canadian presence in Red River

THE COMITE TAKES CHARGE

• Mcdougall and officials tried to enter Red River from the United States• They were kicked out.• Comite called upon all parishes- French and

English to elect representatives to discuss their strategy• Macdonald wanted to delay the land transfer so

they could investigate the problems• Mcdougall rode across the border anyways-

proclaimed Rupert’s land for Canada and left.• No one had control of Canada.

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT

• Mcdougall’s actions prompted the Comite to create a list of demands

• Formed a Provisional Government with Louis Riel as its president

• Were not willing to recognize Canadian authority until their rights were guaranteed.

THOMAS SCOTT

• Thomas Scott was an Orangeman who tried to take over Red River

• Provisional Government found him guilty of treason

• Executed by firing squad

• Public opinion remained divided: • Ontario- against

execution• Quebec- Riel was a

hero

THE MANITOBA ACT

• May 12, 1870- Manitoba bill passed• July 15, 1870- Act would take effect• Provisional Gov’tvoted to accept the terms• Guaranteed: • Elected Gov’t• Schools run by churches• Bilingualism • 1.4 million acres of land• Metis could keep their land

THE REIGN OF TERROR

• After Manitoba became a province, Macdonald sent soldiers from Canada. • Why would he do this? • Manitoba needed troops like the rest of

Canada• People in Ontario were angry about the

death of Thomas Scott and were determined to punish members of the provisional government

A BLOODY MESS

• Many members of the provisional government were warned and left the settlement• The militia beat, threatened, and harassed any

Metis people they encountered• On Sept.13, 1870, militia members attacked and

killed Elzear Goulet because he was a member the court that convicted Scott.• No one was punished for his death.• Violence against the Metis continued until 1872

RIEL BIG CHALLENGES

• After Manitoba entered Confederation, Riel feared for his life and spent almost all his time in hiding

• Won a by-election in 1873 to enter politics

• In Feb. 1875 the federal government granted amnesty to Riel

• Banished for 5 years• Moved to Montana• 1883- became a

schoolteacher

RACISM AGAINST THE METIS

• Thousands of settlers arrived from Canada to stake their claim to land

• Metis people were greatly outnumbered

• Those who were unable to “pass” as Euro-Canadians were labelled as “half-breeds”

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M A N Y M E T I S P E O P L E L E AV E M A N I T O B A M OV E D T O T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S , A L B E RTA , A N D

S A S KATC H E WA N

THE METIS LEAVE

CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE

• Why did the Metis population leave Manitoba? • What were the consequences of this

dispersal?

UH OH… HERE WE GO AGAIN!

• The problems that the Metis experienced in Manitoba were happening again in Saskatchewan:• Decline of Metis jobs• Land surveyors were coming in ignoring the Metis river

lots• Canadian government had begun building the Canadian

Pacific Railway (CPR) • Land speculators began acquiring land for the CPR • Non-Aboriginal immigrants began arriving and staking

claim to the land

• June 1884- a delegation of Metis people went to Montana to find Louis Riel

THE NORTH-WEST RESISTANCE

• The Metis needed Riel’s help • Wrote a petition outlining grievances and

demands• The government in Ottawa acknowledged

the petition but would only agree to look into the problems• Riel took over a church in Batoche and

declared a provisional government • Riel wrote a Bill of Rights (like the one

from 1869)

GROUPS THAT ARE WATCHING CLOSELY

1. Immigrants interested in settling in the area

2. Canadian Government 3. Non-Metis Aboriginals4. Orangemen5. Land Speculators from Toronto (People

who make money from buying and selling the land)

IN YOUR GROUP…

• Read the Bill of Rights, 1885• Highlight the words and phrases that your group

would find important • Be prepared to justify your answers

NEXT…

• Answer the following questions: • What would your group like about the Bill? Why? • What would your group not like? Why? • How would the group you represent respond?

• Elect one member from your group to be the scribe.