PART 2 CANADA AFTER CONFEDERATION Page 166-167 ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

Chapter 8 Vocabulary Identity Metis Country Born Metis First Nations Roman Catholic Missionaries Canadiens Economy York Boats Pemmican Nor’Westers Pemmican Proclamation Migrated Rupert’s Land Assimilation Metis Provisional Government Manitoba Act Reserves Treason Chapter 8 Vocabulary

Vocabulary Check! Identity  A set of characteristics and values that describes the essence of a person or group Metis  People of mixed First Nations and European ancestry who identify themselves as Metis people. They are distinct from First Nations, Inuit and non-Aboriginal peoples. Country Born Metis  The children of First Nations women and British traders from the Hudson’s Bay Company First Nations  Aboriginal peoples of Canada who are not Metis or Inuit. There are more than 600 First Nations across Canada.

Roman Catholic Missionaries  A Roman Catholic priest who travels for the purpose of religious charity work and promotion of the religion Canadiens  A Francophone descendant of the settlers of New France living anywhere in North America. Economy  The way in which people meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing York Boats  A boat used by the Metis to transport furs; it replaced the canoe as the main means of transportation on Western rivers and lakes Pemmican  Dried, shredded buffalo meat mixed with fat and berries

Nor’Westers  A North West Company employee Pemmican Proclamation  A government law created in 1814 that banned the Metis from exporting any meat, fish, or vegetables from the Red River Settlement Migrated  Movement of people within a country Rupert’s Land  A vast territory named after Prince Rupert, the first head of the Hudson’s Bay Company, consisting of most of what is now Western and Northern Canada Assimilation  A process by which culture or individual is absorbed into a more dominant culture because of its overwhelming influence

Metis Provisional Government  A temporary government established by the Metis in 1864 Manitoba Act  A law that was passed in July 1870 in response to the Metis Bill of Rights; it created the province of Manitoba Reserves  A parcel of land that the government agreed to set aside for the exclusive use of a First Nation Treason  Betrayal of one’s country

How do YOU express your identity? CHAPTER 8 THE METIS How do YOU express your identity? Values? Religion? MY IDENTITY Characteristics? Language?

In what ways did the METIS have an impact on the development of Western Canada?

An Emerging Identity in the West Citizens of a Metis Nation – distinct from Europeans, Canadiens, and First Nations Largest # of Metis lived in Red River, Manitoba The First Metis were children of First Nation women and European men By 1840, there was about 4000 Metis living near Manitoba – most kept Catholic beliefs What are the Origins of the Metis culture in Red River? Metis spoke many different languages – including their own language Michif Metis had a unique economy – it was mix between European and First Nation – Trading, Hunting, and Farming They played a very important role in the fur trade – being able to speak more than 1 language allowed them to also work as interpreters, trappers, traders, and freighters They became expert Buffalo hunters – this became part of their way of life. Created Pemmican shredded meat, fat and berries

CANADA TODAY PAGE 176

Conflict at Red River pg. 177 How did the arrival of the Scottish colonists threaten the identity of the Red River Métis? Lord Selkirk (Scottish Nobleman) purchased land from HBC near Red River – he hoped the Scots would be able to turn the land at Red River into a great farming colony... However, a large Métis community was already living there.

Métis Reaction to the Colonists The Métis had no legal papers to say they owned the land they had been farming for more than 100 years The Métis feared the Scottish colonists were going to push them off their land & that their way of life would be over-run by the British culture of the colonists  ASSIMILATION How might the Métis have felt about the new colonists?

Métis Reaction to the Colonists The Nor’Westers (who were allied with the Metis) opposed the colony also…remember, Northwest Company & the HBC were competing against each other over control of the fur trade The Nor’Westers believed the HBC had sent Selkirk & the colonists to disrupt their trade

Conflict over Resources The Governor of the colony worried that too much Buffalo meat was leaving the colony – the Scottish colonists relied on the buffalo for food - so he banned the Métis from exporting any meat, fish or vegetables – the Pemmican Proclamation After the Pemmican Proclamation, the Metis & the Nor’Westers set about to drive the colonists off their land – many left but the remaining Scottish colonists & the Métis developed strong tensions toward each other.

Battle of Seven Oaks June 1816 – a group of Métis (led by Cuthbert Grant) passed by Fort Douglass (headquarters of the colony), the Governor (Robert Semple) led an armed group out of the fort to challenge Grant The two sides faced each other and fierce fighting emerged. Within a few minutes a Métis & 21 colonists lay dead The issues dividing the colonists, the Métis & the fur-trading companies remained This event marked the beginning of a Métis Nation

Migration Further West 1821 – Hudson’s Bay Company took over the North West Company This meant the Red River colony & the land surrounding it now belonged to the British As the Buffalo began to die out, the Metis hunters had to travel far from the Red River to find a herd... Many Métis migrated west & set up communities such as Batoche & St.Albert These became some of the earliest Francophone communities in Western Canada

Your Homework! Reading Guide Section 2 “Conflict at Red River” #1-7

Red River Resistance, 1869 Canada Takes an Interest in the West Rupert’s Land was left to the Aboriginal people who lived there, the government of Canada did not think it was good for farming 1850’s  Canadian Government finds out that areas of the land were well suitable for farming – it had a wealth of Natural Resources At the same time, good farmland was becoming scarce in Ontario People began to look to Rupert’s Land for new areas to colonize

Rupert’s Land Joins Canada In the 1860’S The Red River colony started attracting newcomers from America Some people in Ontario & some British colonists in Red River began to worry that if Canada did not claim Rupert’s Land, the U.S. would After Confederation, Canada was able to purchase the territory from the HBC for $1.5 million

Fears of Assimilation Now, Canada claimed to own Rupert’s Land The First Nations & the Métis living there felt uncertain about there future – they were NOT consulted about the sale of the land They were worried about ASSIMILATION

The Red River Resistance, 1869 The Canadian Government sent surveyors to Red River – they were to prepare the land for the colonists First Nations & Métis were not aware about the surveyors coming to Red River The Métis confronted them & asked what they were doing – they only spoke English so they could not communicate with each other Thankfully, Louis Riel a fellow Métis spoke French, English & Cree fluently – he stopped the surveyors & told them to leave

The Red River Resistance, 1869 In the meantime, the Métis must figure out how to protect their land from the Canadian government In December the Métis established a Métis Provisional Government (provisional – temporary) – They chose Louis Riel to be president Louis Riel was a member of a well-known Métis family in the Francophone community of St. Boniface. He was a devoted Roman Catholic – studying to be a Priest and a VERY important figure for the Métis

Métis Bill of Rights The Métis wanted to at least negotiate terms if they were to join Canada The provisional government drew up a Bill of Rights to present to the government of Canada This was an attempt to protect the different interests of the people already living in the territory

French & English Canada Take Sides Not everyone in Red River supported the Métis resistance English speakers who were originally from Ontario or Britain were furious with the actions of the Francophone Métis – some took up arms against the provisional government - the Métis put them in Jail Thomas Scott – 28 yr old from Ontario – threatened to kill Riel – he was put on trial, found guilty & placed in front of a firing squad – he was shot & killed

The Anglophone Perspective The Francophone Perspective Scott was an English Speaking Protestant – his death set the British population against the Metis Provisional Government They called for revenge against the Metis leaders who were responsible for Scott’s death Red River Metis were mainly Francophone Roman Catholics Many Canadiens saw the Metis as defenders of the Francophone Catholic way of life in the West – Canadiens stood up for the Metis The situation at Red River threatened to become a national crisis (Ontario vs. Quebec)

Reading guide for section 3 “Red River Resistance, 1869” Your Homework! Reading guide for section 3 “Red River Resistance, 1869”

The Creation of Manitoba Prime Minister John A. MacDonald wanted to find a solution that would please all sides of the Red River Crisis The Métis Provisional Government sent representatives to Ottawa with its Bill of Rights The Prime Minister agreed to almost all the terms of the Bill of Rights July 1870 – Manitoba Act is passed by the government which created the Province of Manitoba – many compromises had to be made to reach this decision

The Manitoba Act Manitoba Act created Canada’s 5th province Some important terms of the Act...  Manitoba to have its own provincial government  French & English used in government courts  4 members of House of Commons & 2 members to the senate  2 publicly funded schools systems (Catholic & Protestant)  An area of land to be set aside for the Métis to use  Natural resources of the province would remain under control of the FEDERAL government Are the terms of the act fair?

Soldiers on the March While the Prime Minister was discussing the Métis terms, he sent 1200 English soldiers to Red River to keep peace & protect the new province – many wanted to punish the Métis & capture Louis Riel. Louis Riel, knowing he was in danger, escaped to the United States The Federal Government agreed not to put him on trial for the death of Thomas Scott but they banished him from Canada for 5 years Some of the soldiers took out their anger on the Metis when they were in Red River – several were killed, beaten & jailed

Reading Guide for Section 4 ‘The Creation of Manitoba’ Homework! Reading Guide for Section 4 ‘The Creation of Manitoba’

Second Metis Uprising, 1885 The creation of Manitoba did not solve all the problems for the Metis and the First Nations – issues of land ownership and fears of assimilation continued as the Government of Canada claimed greater control over the west.

Problems Persist Many Metis left Manitoba to travel farther west & north to live as hunters, trappers and farmers – they were not happy with how things were going… Not all Metis were given the land they were promised Newcomers did not show respect for the Metis identity and way of life Newcomers wanted to populate Manitoba with English speaking protestants

Metis & First Nation Grievances

Riel Returns Louis Riel was invited by Gabriel Dumont & a group of Metis to return to Canada in order to help the Metis have their voice heard – the Canadian Government was ignoring all Metis concerns. Riel and Dumont decided the Metis would take up arms and begin a 2nd Metis Uprising

The Government Reacts The Northwest Resistance of 1885 was short - after 3 days of fighting, the Metis and their Cree & Dakota allies surrendered. Following the resistance, more than a dozen Metis ended up in prison.

Fate of Louis Riel Louis Riel surrendered and was put on trial for treason (betraying his country) – he was found guilty and eventually hung to death. Prime Minister MacDonald had a hard time deciding what to do – if he should hang Riel or not…

Whatever decision MacDonald made would cost his party votes in the upcoming Federal election – he knew the # of votes would be higher in Ontario than in Quebec, so he would most likely win the election if he sided with Ontario.

“Riel shall hang though every dog in Québec shall bark,” - MacDonald The Canadiens blamed English Canadians in Ontario for Riel’s death. The Riel execution confirmed the suspicions of the Canadiens that their Confederation “partnership” with English Canada was unequal.

The Government Tightens its Grip After the 2nd Metis Uprising , the government finally responded to the complaints that led to the uprising… Began issuing scrips (Certificates for land) again Metis and Aboriginals were punished for their role in the uprising First Nations were forced to stay on their reserves – not allowed to travel without Government permission The land was now open up to European farmers Government could now expand the CPR

Outcome for the Metis? As an independent nation, the Métis had tried to deal peacefully with Canada. They wanted rights equal to those enjoyed by people in other provinces, but the government ignored their requests. The outcome of the resistance set back the Métis and their struggle to be recognized as a distinct people. The government of Canada, backed by the army, gained firm control of the West. Many of the issues that led to the violence of 1885 would remain unsettled in the years to come.