Selkirk’s Grant & the Pemmican Proclamation

Selkirk’s Grant Thomas Douglas: the Fifth Earl of Selkirk (Lord Selkirk) Selkirk was the director of the HBC Wanted to help displaced farmers from Scotland by creating agricultural colonies in British North America. Learned that the soil in the Red River Valley was fertile Wanted to save on the cost of shipping food stuffs from England to feed HBC employees Decided to establish a farming colony in the Red River Valley to help the farmers and the HBC by providing food for its operations.

Selkirk’s Grant cont… 1811: convinced the HBC to give him 300,000 square km in southern Manitoba and North Dakota (Selkirk’s Grant). Felt that he had legal right to this land because it was part of Rupert’s Land Failed to give much thought to the people who were already living in the area. Question: How would you react to a large number of farming colonists moving into your area without permission? Question: How would this affect you?

Selkirk’s Grant cont… Labourers arrive in the Red River from Britain under the command of Miles Macdonell to begin clearing the land Failed to consider harsh climate of the Red River Valley 36 colonists arrived in August of 1812. 100 more two months later. They were forced to spend the winter at Fort Pembina and survive off of supplies of pemmican. Colonists suffer during the first year because their crops fail. Forced to spend a second winter at Fort Pembina

The Pemmican Proclamation Miles Macdonell: issued the Pemmican Proclamation to ensure that colonists would not run out of food – January 1814. Banned the sale/export of pemmican from the Red River This infuriated the Metis, who relied on proceeds from the sale of pemmican to the NWC Macdonell went against Lord Selkirk’s instructions to avoid the NWC Macdonell ordered NWC employees to vacate their posts in the Red River within six months

Pemmican Proclamation cont… Resulted in retaliation by Metis and NWC – NWC appointed Duncan Cameron and Alexander Macdonell to carry out the ops. Led by Duncan Cameron, former chief trader of the NWC Appointed Cuthbert Grant as Captain of the Metis. Harassed colonists until they decided to leave by burning buildings, destroying crops, and firing rifles at night. Cameron arrested Macdonell and took him to Fort William for trial Inspired Metis to fight for their rights and their land.

The Battle of Seven Oaks Colin Robertson (HBC factor) led the British colonists back to the Red River Valley within the year. Tried to make peace with the Metis until Robert Semple (new governor for the colony) could arrive. Semple ignored Robertson’s order to cooperate with the NWC and Metis and ordered the burning of Fort Gibraltar. Metis saw this as a sign of war. May 1816 - Metis led by Cuthbert Grant seized a supply of Pemmican from HBC York boats on the Assiniboine River as compensation for the Pemmican Proclamation.

Grant decided to move the pemmican to Lake Winnipeg where they could supply NWC traders. He intended to avoid the Red River colony but was seen by a lookout at Fort Douglas on June 19th. Semple and 28 men rode out to confront the Metis. The Metis split into two groups and surrounded Semple and his men. Grant tried to negotiate with Semple but angry words led to a colonist firing on the Metis. Within 15 minutes, Semple and 20 of his men were killed. 1 Metis died in the skirmish. Metis refer to the skirmish as the Victory at Frog Plain. It is considered a defining moment in Metis history.

Grant allowed the remaining colonists to leave Red River without harm. Lord Selkirk heard about the Battle of Seven Oaks and seized Fort William (NWC) before taking control of the Red River Valley. He was accompanied by 100 Swiss soldiers and under their protection, allowed the colonists to return to the settlement. Spring 1817 - Selkirk negotiated a treaty with the Cree and Anishinabe to lease the land along the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. Distributed the land among the colonists and promised that a church and school would be built. Died in the spring of 1820.

The Battle of Seven Oaks

The Battle of Seven Oaks Primary Source Analysis Activity: In groups of three, examine the painting of the Battle of Seven Oaks (Horizons p.145). Compare the depiction of events in the painting with the account on p. 146 in your Horizons textbook. Describe the painting.   Who do you think painted this picture and why?  What can you tell about the artist’s opinion about the Battle of Seven Oaks? Who’s side do you think the artist was on?

The Ballad of Frog Plain Come and you will hear me sing 
A song of a true and a brave thing. 
The nineteenth of June our band of Brule Boys, 
Arrived like soldiers full of joy. When we arrived upon Frog Plain, 
Three Orkney men we did detain 
Three Orkney men who'd come from over the sea 
Come for to steal our fair country. We were about to ride away, 
When the Englishmen upon us came. 
We soon had encircled their band of grenadiers 
Which caused them all to halt in fear. An envoy then we did send 
To the governor of those Englishmen, 
But the governor, being a proud and angry man, 
Attacked him as he came along.

The Ballad of Frog Plain The governor thinks he's an emperor, 
Thinks he can act like a great lord. 
He thought he could scare off the Brule Boys, 
But when we killed him it stopped his noise. For his mistake with his life he paid; 
Most of his grenadiers they were slain. 
Four or five at most escaped that day, 
While all the rest to our guns fell prey. You should have seen those Englishmen 
With our Brule Boys coming after them 
Till one by one we did them all destroy, 
Leaving our hearts so full of joy. Who is the singer of this song? 
My name it is Pierre Falcon. 
I was the one who sat and wrote this song 
About the Brule Boys so strong.

The Ballad of Frog Plain Falcon's Song: The Ballad of Frog Plain http://www.mnheritagesongbook.net/AdditionalSongs/Fa lconsSong.html Questions: Why do you think this song is important to the Metis people? How does this song compare to the painting of the Battle of Seven Oaks in terms of the perspective on the battle? Discuss with a partner and share your answers with the class.