The North-West Resistance

Who was involved? First Nations Leaders: Poundmaker Big Bear Louis Riel Lief Newry Fitzroy Crozier Gabriel Dumont General Middleton

Duck Lake The Provisional Government asked Croizier to surrender A group of Metis people took over stores in Duck Lake NWMP tried to establish control Fighting broke out Police forced to retreat

Conflict Escalates First Nations were independent of Metis forces First Nations fighting for the needs of their own communities Raided farms and stores for food, supplies, and livestock

Troops Deployed Government sent Major Middleton to Winnipeg to prepare troops to go West 600 troops were dispatched Reached Qu’Appelle in 6 days Marched toward Batoche, Swift Currant, and Battleford

Fish Creek Middleton and his men encountered Metis forces led by Dumont Metis were outnumbered but well positioned Middleton decided to retreat due to loss of men

Battle of Batoche Surrender: Middleton’s forces of about 850 laid siege to about 300 Metis and First Nations fighters Women, children, and the elderly supplied food, made ammunition, and nursed the wounded Surrender: The Metis were better trained and positioned- but the Canadians had more guns and ammunition Metis shotguns and rifles could not compare After 3 days, Metis and First Nations ran out of ammunitions and had to surrender

Aftermath Women and children fled and hid Riel surrendered to the government troops Dumont did not believe he would be given a fair trial so he escaped to the US Big Bear and Poundmaker surrendered The government tried 71 Metis and First Nations people for treason, 12 for murder, and 1 (Riel) for high treason