1. The Métis and Louis Riel

2. Rupert’s Land Act Largest real estate deal in history
Canadian government paid £300,000 (1.5 million) to shareholders and granted thousands of hectares of land around trading posts.
Gave one twentieth of all land in the territory to the HBC
Dec. 1, 1869, making Canada six time its original size. It became known as the North West Territories.

3. Expansion Westward Government surveyors ordered to divide land.
Metis angered by the surveyors and put a stop to them.
William McDougall (Lieutenant Governor of the North West)
Métis angered by McDougall because he strongly favoured westward expansion.

4. “You shall go no further” Louis Riel Oct
“You shall go no further” Louis Riel Oct. 11, 1869 “The National Committee of the Métis orders William McDougall not to enter the Territory of the North West without special permission of the above mentioned committee.” - The Métis used the rationale that the Canadian authority had no jurisdiction in the North West.

5. Riel captures Fort Gary (HBC Headquarters)
Riel creates a Métis List of Rights, in hopes that they would become a basis for negotiations with the government.
Feb. 1870, 600 settlers launched an unsuccessful attack on Fort Garry to try and free their colleagues.
48 prisoners. Thomas Scott was chosen by Riel to use as an example of the conspirators. Scott was executed by a Métis firing squad.
French Canada saw Riel as trying to preserve a threatened culture.
English Canada saw Riel as a traitor. Riel had defied the legally constituted authority of the Canadian government.

6. Provisional Government -
temporary government until a permanent one can be established.

7. May 12, 1870 Canada’s 5th province Manitoba
Macdonald agrees to most of Riel’s List of Rights
Manitoba derived from “Manitou” meaning Great Spirit
Macdonald sends military to Manitoba.

8. Aboriginal/Métis Population Decreasing:
 Starvation, buffalo disappearing  Disease  Fur trade is no longer a reliable source of income  Railroad  Aggressive settlers  Lost cultural traditions because of government, laws, policing

9. 1876 Indian Act
 Aboriginals as 2nd class citizens  Government control over Aboriginals living on reserves  Would lose aboriginal status if they voted, or married a non- aboriginal

10. North West Rebellion
200 Métis attack 46 Mounted Police Mounties were killed; they retreat.
More troops arrive, and outnumber the Métis. The Métis surrender
Riel surrenders and is charged with high treason
An all white male jury, found him guilty. The judge orders Riel to be executed
Macdonald ignores pleas and states, “He shall hang, though every dog in Quebec bark in his favour.”

12. English-Protestant Canadians
Viewed Riel as a traitor and a murder of their fellow protestant. Thomas Scott. He had, in their eyes, illegally taken up arms against legally constituted authority and had murdered English Canadians.
Riel had been exiled for his early wrongdoings, but he had returned and repeated his actions. His execution, from the English perspective was warranted and justified.

13. French-Catholic Canadians
Riel was a defender of Catholic and francophone rights in Canada. He was a victim of the heavy handed power of an English majority. He had legitimately struggled for the very same thing that monopolized much of their attention – cultural preservation and survival – and his execution unleashed a wave of French- Canadian nationalism that saw Riel as a hero.