Resistance%20and%20rebellion

1
Louis Riel

• Resistance and rebellion

2
Where did we leave off?

• Transfer of Ruperts Land to Canada
• Families who had lived at Red River for several
  generations were left with an uncertain future

3
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

4
The comite national des metis

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

5
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 Ruperts land for Canada and left.
• No one had control of Canada.

6
Provisional government

• Mcdougalls 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.

7
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

8
The manitoba act

• May 12, 1870- Manitoba bill passed
• July 15, 1870- Act would take effect
• Provisional Govt
• voted to accept the terms
• Guaranteed
• Elected Govt
• Schools run by churches
• Bilingualism
• 1.4 million acres of
• land
• Metis could keep their
• land

9
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

10
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

11
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

12
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

13
The metis leave

• Many metis people leave manitoba
• Moved to the united states, alberta, and
  saskatchewan

14
Cause and consequence

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

15
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

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The north-west resistance

• The Metis needed Riels 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)

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Groups that are watching closely

1. Immigrants interested in settling in the area
2. Canadian Government
3. Non-Metis Aboriginals
4. Orangemen
5. Land Speculators from Toronto (People who make
   money from buying and selling the land)

18
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

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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.