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Louis riel and the red river rebellion. Manitoba joined confederation in 1870 Not a smooth entry – fighting between the Metis and the Canadian Surveyors and Soldiers. Who were the Metis?.
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Manitoba joined confederation in 1870 • Not a smooth entry – fighting between the Metis and the Canadian Surveyors and Soldiers
Who were the Metis? • Metis were the Native people of Manitoba who were descendants of the French fur traders and the Native people of the colony
What was the Metis way of life? • They mainly lived by hunting buffalo and farming • Traded furs and pemmican for manufactured goods
This area was owned by the Hudson Bay company and was known as Rupert’s Land
Hudson’s Bay Company sold Rupert’s Land to the Canadian Government • Transfer of ownership to take place 1869
METIS RESISTANCE • Metis were concerned about losing valuable land to settlers and lose their way of life • Resistance to expansion to the West
RESISTANCE • Led by Louis Riel, the Metis in Manitoba prevented William MacDougall from entering the Red River Colony
Seized Upper Fort Garry • Proclaimed a Provisional Government • Metis Bill of Rights
Resistance continued • Thomas Scott – part of a group that refused to support the Riel provisional government and made plans to overthrow it
1870 – members of this group were arrested for trying to take over Fort Garry • One of these men was Thomas Scott
Scott made his anti-French, anti-Catholic views insultingly clear to his captors • Provisional government tried Scott and found him guilty of treason
Thomas Scott shot by a firing squad • Turning point in Riel’s role as leader – divided opinion that has lasted until this day – hero/traitor divide
At the same time, John A. MacDonald sent troops to the area to ensure the land transfer • Riel fled and Metis Rebellion collapsed
The northwest resistance • Riel lived in Montana, for many years, but returned to Manitoba in 1884 to help resist the expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Riel surrendered to government troops on May 15, 1885, he was found guilty of high treason, and he was hanged – created division between French and English in Canada