1. The Confederation of Manitoba
Canadian Expansions Plans and Metis Resistance

2. Canadian Expansion Plans
The British North America Act of 1867 created the Dominion of Canada with four provinces:
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick
Also included the colonies of: Newfoundland, PEI, and British Columbia (& Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory)

4. Why the West?
Population in the Dominion of Canada was growing rapidly and most of the good agricultural land was already taken.
Reported that the West had excellent agricultural potential
Fears that the United States would annex Rupert’s Land

5. The Red River Valley
Many independent First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples lived across Rupert’s land and the North-Western Territory.
Most of the population in the settlement along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers was Metis.
Also HBC employees, Scottish farmers, and French Canadians
Scottish people-lord Selkirk between 1811 and 1820 and French people- arrival of Father Provencher in 1818 and the creation of a roman catholic mission

6. Changes at Red River
Merger between HBC and the North West Company resulted in half the employees losing their jobs in the fur trade.
Some of these employees settled in RR
Decline of Bison Herds
Turned to farming and selling produce
Sold to HBC
Traded with the US as well

7. Orangemen
Dr. John Schultz led a group of English speaking settlers from Ontario to RR
Thought that Rupert’s Land should be part of Canada.
Many were members of the Orange Order
These men were:
Anti-Catholic
Anti-French

8. Transfer of Rupert’s Land
April Reached a deal to transfer Rupert’s Land to the Dominion of Canada
Never consulted with First Nations, Metis, or Inuit peoples.
Britain agreed to transfer Rupert’s Land to Canada on Dec 1, 1869
PM Macdonald expected the HBC to conclude issues related to land title with its residents but they did not attempt to resolve these issues
HBC received 300,000 pounds to return the land to the British crown and territory