Ch. 4 The Selkirk Settlement, The Merger of the HBC & NWC, The Red River Valley from 1821-1860

The North West Company Formed in 1783. Posts located in western and northern interior. Native trappers traveled shorter distances. Major trade depot at Fort William. Had partners in Montreal who arranged shipment of fur pelts to England. Trading standards were more relaxed.

Fort William

First Nation’s Trading House at Fort William

Canoe

Portages: 1821

Downsides for the First Nations Their lives were disrupted due to the high demand for furs. Trappers had to work full time and abandon their yearly cycle of fishing, hunting and preserving food. Clash with cultural values. Exposure to diseases such as smallpox and measles.

The Competition for furs By the early 19th century fur resources were being depleted. Both the NWC and the HBC had to move deeper inland to gain control of untapped resources. NWC traders began wintering in their trading areas and staying with local Native groups. Mixed marriages occurred as a result. NWC approved of the marriages and HBC forbade them.

Trap used by an early fur trapper

Trade Goods People would trade beaver pelts for goods that were needed by both the trappers and Native Peoples. Items such as blankets, guns, powder and lead, knives, kettles and pots, cloth, food and spices, whiskey and such items were brought out to trade. Europeans would take the furs and use them to make hats, clothing and other items.

Beaver Pelt : James Bay Region

Beaver House

Modifications to the Beaver Hat

Sorting furs at the Raw Fur Department, Hudson’s Bay Company branch in Vancouver

The Northwest Gun The Natives were intelligent customers. They saw the advantages of firearms. By 1620 firearms were flowing to the First Nations. By 1750 a standard pattern of gun. A dependable weapon for hunting and war.

Snake Side path on Northwest gun

The first American-made Northwest gun, by John Deringer, 1816

Powder Horn and Shooting Pouch

First Nations Fur Trade Beads

Some made beads from shells, stones, bones, and metal. WHERE DID THE FIRST NATIONS GET THEIR BEADS? Some made beads from shells, stones, bones, and metal. Brightly colored glass beads sewn to First Nations clothing were all made by Europeans. Today the Czech Republic and Japan are the leading producers glass beads. Records from early trading posts show a beaver was worth: six Hudson's Bay beads.

Various Bead work

Pipe Bag of Big Bear

TRADE SILVER Silver made for trade to Natives was a fad. Sales of silver steadily declined after 1820, but continued into the 1850s.

Cooking Pot

Hudson’s Bay Company Copper Kettles

17th century Dutch Bearded Man Jug

Early 19th century English jar of bear grease used as hair pomade

Hatchet:

Hudson’s Bay Company job posting 1816

The Earl of Selkirk Thomas Douglas – Earl of Selkirk – was determined to bring poor tenant farmers from Scotland to Canada People who were affected by the enclosure movement Selkirk created settlements in Maritimes & Upper Canada first Was the director the HBC = influence

The Red River Valley Learns that the Red River Valley has fertile soil Problem = convincing the HBC to ship foodstuff from England to the Northwest Solution = create a settlement & have new farmers supply HBC employees with agricultural products 1811 – HBC gives the “Selkirk Grant” to Selkirk Part of Rupert’s Land Selkirk and HBC felt they had “legal right” to the land -> did not consider those already living there

The Red River Valley 1811 – 36 Scottish & Irish labourers with Miles Macdonell head to Selkirk Grant to prepare for colonists arrival Problem = arrive too late in summer -> not prepared for the long winter -> spring harvest failed Almost died Solution = Pemmican Proclamation

Pemmican Proclamation Fearing the crops would fail for a second year -> Macdonell issues the Pemmican Proclamation Banned the sale & export of pemmican from the Red River Valley for one year Reactions: Metis depended on pemmican sales for survival -> were furious NWC saw it as a way for the HBC to drive them out of the area Macdonell was told to not interfere w/ NWC, but ignored his instructions -> told all NWC employees to leave their posts in the area

The NWC Strikes Back 1814 – NWC orders employees, Alexander Macdonell & Duncan Cameron, to drive out the colonists with the help of the Metis led by Cuthbert Grant Harassed colonists, burned buildings, trampled crops, fired rifles at night Convinced 133 colonists to leave Arrest Miles Macdonell Remaining colonists leave after Metis become inspired to fight for their rights & land

Remember from last day What did the colonist trade for fur? Why was the Red River Valley so valuable? Who were the Metis What did the HBC forbid, that made the Metis and NWC angry?

The Battle of Seven Oaks HBC & colonists (plus new) come back to Red River by the end of summer (remember many colonist had left!) Set out to make peace w/ NWC & Metis They ignored advice about making peace & attacked instead Burnt an empty NWC post Metis & NWC see this as a declaration of war

The Battle of Seven Oaks 1816 – the Metis raid HBC boats They take a large supply of pemmican Attempt to move pemmican to Lake Winnipeg for NWC traders, but are seen from a lookout HBC go to confront the Metis Metis spilt into two groups & surround the HBC Grant attempts to have a discussion & fails Colonists fire at the Metis Gunfight lasts 15 minutes HBC governor (Semple) and 20 of his men are killed, one Metis is killed

The Battle of Seven Oaks 1817 – eventually Selkirk negotiates a treaty w/ the First Nations Gains possession of land in Red River Valley Payment = 100 lbs of tobacco a year

Video Clips “The Selkirk Settlers” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5es68RFzN0 “Seven Oaks” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF2ym1SJIY8

Question: How can the Battle of Seven Oaks be seen as a turning point in Metis history. Explain…

The Merger of the HBC & the NWC – pg. 147-150 Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper 1. Why did the HBC and NWC merge in 1821? 2. Describe the attitude of George and Frances Simpson towards the First Natives and Metis. 3. How were their views racists? 4. What impact did their views have on the Simpsons? 5. What impact did their views have on the Red River Settlement?

The Red River Rebellion

Talks about a new province of Manitoba There was discussion about Canada purchasing Rupert’s Land from HBC after the merger Canada sent out surveyors who didn’t respect the rights of those living there (Metis and First Nations

Provisional Government Riel and his supporters were not ‘trying’ to start a rebellion They wanted only to ensure that the people of the R.R.S would retain their rights and traditions after the region was sold to Canada

Provisional Government Riel decided to set up a provisional government maintain order and negotiate an agreement Riel feared that the Canadian Party (under Governor McDougall) would take away their rights Riel wanted to PROTECT the rights of all the groups in the settlement provisional government = temporary government

The Canadian Party One of the first immigrants to arrive in 1860 in RRS was Dr. John Christian Schultz He started the ‘Nor’Wester’ He believed that people of protestants of European decent were superior to First Nations (and also were not Catholic or French!)

The Canadian Party Used his newspaper as an anti-Metis propaganda outlet “The Metis should either be driven from the country, or kept as cart drivers” “The Metis, the indolent and the careless, like the native tribes of the country, will fall back before the march of superior intelligence”

An arrest and a proposal Fearing what the Canadian Party was prepared to do, Riel led a party of armed Metis to Schultz’s house (which was the headquarters of the Canadian Party). Schultz and forty-eight of his followers were ‘arrested’ by the Metis Macdonald insisted that he was not eager to start a military conflict, but he said ‘should these miserable half-breeds no disband, they must be put down’

An escape and an execution! Schultz escaped from the Metis’ prison and started to clash and insult the guards Thomas Scott  the most belligerent and racist of the bunch and threatened the life of Louis Riel He was put on trial by the Metis’ provisional government and sentences to death by firing squad

Consequences Many people regretted the execution of Thomas Scott – but Riel left for Ottawa to negotiate the creation of Manitoba Schults had also left – he used the execution to make the Metis look dangerous and uncultured (aka- don’t deserve rights)

Rebellion is defined as open, organized, and armed resistance to one's government or ruler. Resistance is defined as group action in opposition to those in power; the action of opposing something you disapprove of or disagree with.

 Were the events in Red River a rebellion or a resistance? A rebellion tends to be seen as something that is illegal while a resistance is more often seen as a less powerful group struggling for justice from a dominant one. The question is how should the Metis be viewed as resistance fighters or rebels?