CH. 5 THE PRAIRIES

THE METIS FLEE WESTWARD The Manitoba Act - 1870. Fr. & Eng. = official languages. Two ed. Systems Protestant & Catholic. 1.4 million acres for Metis MANITOBA 1870 1870 Man. Act -> Most of it was based on the Metis List of Rights PROBLEMS MacDonald’s peace agents were cruel to Metis. Land ownership & scrip. $160 or quarter section of land ($1 per acre). - Metis did not understand (Rules - Ex. cultivation & lotteries ) and land speculators took advantage at low prices. Threatened Metis with prison. Frustrated Metis moved West Result - Many Metis left Manitoba and moved further west.

THE METIS IN THE NORTHWEST Tried to recreate Red River further west. Seigneural land patterns, Catholic churches, farming, buffalo, & HBC. By 1870 problems arose. Bison declined - Laws of St. Laurent. Food & pemmican/income became scarce. Magistrate Clarke appointed. He ran the HBC & laws of the N.West. Conflict of interest???? HBC always got priority over Metis. ie. Revoked Laws of St. Laurent Why did US gov’t encourage the decimation of the buffalo?

by Whiskey traders caused outrage in Canada. THE NWMP NWMP By 1873, the Canadian government established the North West Mounted Police to patrol the Northwest. REASONS FOR THE NWMP Whisky traders from the US, were coming north and used cheap liquor to take advantage of the Native peoples. It was feared the US would work its way north and assimilate Canada’s Northwest. - Did not want “Wild West” of the USA. CYPRESS HILLS MASSACRE 30 Assinboine killed by Whiskey traders caused outrage in Canada. FORT WHOOP-UP 99% Alcohol (20-40% normal)

Treaties with the Native Peoples Settlement of the west would not be possible without treaties and 1896 Indian Act (See next slide). Treaty conditions were often ignored. Unkept promises =>Farm equipment, supplies, farming techniques. Reserve land often small & poor land. Gov’t dependency increased. Between 1874-1877, 7 treaties signed. Mcdonald’s ‘Sea to Sea’ dream needed land.

1876 Indian Act 1876 = Indian Act Natives to live on reserves. Children to attend residential schools. Propaganda Video vs. Reality Video Missionaries sent to encourage treaties. 2008 Harper gave Federal Apology

THE NORTHWEST REBELLION REASONS THE METIS WERE FRUSTRATED. Could not re-create the Red River Settlement. Troubles gaining land titles in Red River & the Northwest. Canadian gov’t had its own agenda –> Natives not part of treaty process. Prairie land was to pay off RR and debts. Gov’t slashed “Indian Dept.” budget. Promised farm/land aid never happened. Blackmail => “Difficult Indians” received no food relief. By 1884, many First Nations people starving. Status under Indian Act unclear THE BLACKFOOT

NORTH WEST REBELLION - RIEL RETURNS In 1884, Riel returned from the US. The Metis convinced Riel to leave his teaching job and return to Canada to fight for his people. Riel returned with peaceful intentions and created the Metis Bill of Rights. By March of 1885, Riel knew the Metis could not achieve rights peacefully. “Justice commands us to take up arms” LOUIS RIEL BATTLES - DUCK LAKE - FISH CREEK - BATOCHE GABRIEL DUMONT

ROLE OF THE FIRST NATIONS The Cree supported the Metis and fought with them. CREE CHIEF BIG BEAR CREE CHIEF POUNDMAKER The Blackfoot opted not to fight as Chief Crowfoot felt change was inevitable & he wanted the best deal possible for his people. “Pragmatist”. Who was being most loyal to their people? CHIEF CROWFOOT

RIEL’S ARREST By May, Riel was arrested and Dumont had escaped to the US. Riel’s lawyers recommended he plead insanity. Riel refused as went against everything he had been fighting for. Riel was hanged Nov. 16, 1885. MARTYR???? Riel’s jury - What emotion do you see?

THE NATIONAL DREAM CANADA - “A SEA TO SEA NATION” J. A. MacDonald REASONS FOR A RAILWAY - MacDonald promised BC a transcontinental RR if we joined Canada. Create a British North American nation that would rival the US. To prevent the possibility of assimilation by the US. MacDonald looked for people willing to build and pay for such a huge expenditure. “Build it and we will make it worth your while later.”

THE NATIONAL DREAM (cont.) THE PACIFIC SCANDAL - MacDonald Promised Sir Hugh Allen the RR contract If he paid for his election campaign. MacDonald got caught and lost election. Alexander Mackenzie (Liberal) -won election but faced world depression. - hated RR idea but allowed Fleming to survey. - alienated BC. SIR HUGH ALLEN MacDonald elected back with his NATIONAL POLICY. - Tariffs - Western Settlement - The CPR A. MACKENZIE

MORE POLITICAL SCANDALS Chretien Sponsorship Scandal Ford – Crack/DUI/Booze Clarke – Renovation $ Clinton - Sex DUI - Hawaii

THE SYNDICATE THE CPR SYNDICATE George Stephen - Bank of Montreal Donald Smith - HBC James J. Hill - US Railways STEPHEN THE DEAL - $25 million - 25 million acre land grant - monopoly on RR. For 20 yrs. - no land tax until sold. RR TO BE COMPLETED IN 10 YRS. NOTE - The Syndicate changed the route to assume total control & avoid land speculators. SMITH HILL VAN HORNE Construction started slow and William Van Horne was hired to speed things up. NOTE - Van Horne was paid $20 000 / yr. when average. wage was $400 /yr. Equivalent = $1 000 000 / yr. today.

CPR SYNDICATE CHANGES ROUTE

BUILDING THE CPR THE LAST SPIKE Van Horne made deadlines (completed in 1885) but $ ran out. Canadian gov’t gave $22.5 million to finish. Van Horne cut corners - ie. temp. bridges & ignored safety grades. Terrible work & living conditions. Bugs, poor diets, filthy bedding, leaks, danger, no plumbing. Over 35 000 ‘Navvies’ needed to finish the RR. 1885 Rebellion transported troops & showed value of RR. => justified more $ to finish. THE LAST SPIKE NOV. 7, 1885

A THOUGHT TO PONDER! The expansion of Canada came with a great deal of controversy. Treatment of the First Nation people. Finances Pacific Scandal Catering toEastern Business 1885 Rebellion Settling the West U.S. Manifest Destiny Land Speculators CPR Working conditions Van Horne B.C. Rockies - Rogers Pass