Post-Confederation (After) Chapter 9 Post-Confederation (After)
The Red River Resistance What was it? The people of Red River began to resist a plan that Canada, Britain and HBC had, to make Rupert’s land part of Canada Why did it matter? The People of Red River were never consulted. The people living here wanted a say in their future
Who were the people of Red River? Mostly Metis (People of half European and half First Nations descent) Pronounced: May-tee About half the people spoke French and half spoke English here They were mostly farmers or made their money in what was left of the fur trade Families live close together
What else triggered the resistance? The people of Red River were facing many stresses Crop failure Decline of the buffalo they hunted Canada’s decisions to take over their land Surveyors from the HBC came to Red River to start planning the settlements of the ones who would push the Metis off their land, sometimes measuring right through the farms of the Metis as if they didn’t exist
Leading up to the rebellion… William McDougall: The lieutenant-governor of the territory (Canada appointed him) Canada sent him to Red River to be there when the transfer of the territory was to take place (The takeover)
What did the Resistance Look Like? Metis volunteers set up a blockade to stop McDougall and succeeded Then they took control of a major HBC trading post in the area, Fort Garry. They managed to take the fort peacefully. The Metis set up a provisional government in Fort Garry and made Louis Riel the president
Vocab Pause Provisional Government: A temporary government formed when no other authority can establish control
VIP Pause: Louis Riel: A Metis leader who became famous when he stopped a surveyor from crossing his cousin’s farm
The Metis Flag Symbolizes the joining of the First Nations and European culture in a new society