1. What’s this. Another Rebellion, Resistance, Revolution, Civil War
What’s this? Another Rebellion, Resistance, Revolution, Civil War? The Metis want their rights respected! So does Canada…

2. The North West “Conflict”1885

3. What Prompted A Rebellion?
The North-West Rebellion (or North-West Resistance or the Saskatchewan Rebellion) of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful attempt by the Métis people of the Saskatchewan Territory to bring their concerns about their survival to the Dominion of Canada.
The main players, again, were Louis Riel and his closest advisor and leader of the Saskatchewan Métis, Gabriel Dumont

4. After Red River
After the Red River Rebellion, many Métis did not want to be part of an English-dominated Canada and moved from Manitoba to Saskatchewan, then part of the Northwest Territories, founding a settlement at Batoche.
However, as in Manitoba, settlers from Ontario began to arrive in Saskatchewan, and began arranging land using the square concession system of English Canada, rather than the seigneurial system of strips along a river that the Métis learned from their French-Canadian ancestors.
In addition to this the buffalo, for generations the Métis' chief source of food, were being hunted to extinction by the Hudsons Bay Company and other, unaffiliated poachers.

5. The Government’s Agenda
6.4 Million hectares of land left in the NW Territories, most of it held by land speculators Macdonald found that if this land were to be sold, the government could make a huge profit (71 million!) Government wanted the land!
When railway costs rose, the government took away money from the Indian Affairs Department to offset the cost. This meant that treaties were broken
The First Nations now had to rely on the government for survival. Many Aboriginal people were close to starvation 

6. The Problems…
By the 1880s, settlers from Europe and Eastern North America were moving into the Saskatchewan and the Métis saw their traditional lifestyle threatened again (like in 1870).
The white settlers in the Territory were also angry. They accused the Canadian Government of operating the Territory solely for the benefit of Eastern Canadian business to the detriment of local interests. Settlers had to buy from the east.
By the middle of the decade all parties in the west were holding meetings, sending petitions and discussing political tactics for settlement of their grievances against a government which seemed as uninterested as it was remote.

7. The Wants… What the Metis wanted
legal proof that they owned the small spaces of land where they lived.
A voice in their own government.
What the Aboriginal Peoples wanted
food and more money in exchange for the use of their land; many people were close to starvation with the buffalo almost wiped out.
What the Settlers wanted
lower prices for farm machinery and for moving goods on the railroad.
Higher prices for their wheat.
A stronger voice for the North-West in Ottawa.

8. Riel Returns
In exile, Riel spent some time in an asylum and later settled in Montana. In 1884 the Métis asked Riel to return to appeal to the Canadian government on their behalf.
In March of 1885, Riel, Gabriel Dumont, and others set up the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan, believing that they could influence the federal government the same way they had in 1869.
However, there was now a railway line reaching from Ontario to the southeastern part of the Saskatchewan Territory, and the North West Mounted Police (NWMP-1873) had been created. The government owned the territory and could send troops and police to defend it.

9. Riel Returns
Riel dreamed of bringing the Aboriginal peoples, the Metis and the settlers together. They would speak to Ottawa with one voice.
A petition was drawn up and sent to Ottawa.
The government promised to look into the problems, but no action was taken (Macdonald hoped they would just go away…)
It soon became clear that Riel lacked support from both the English settlers of the area and many of the non-Métis natives, and - due to his belief that God had sent him back to Canada as a prophet - the Catholic Church no longer supported him either.

10. More Petitions…
The Metis sent another Petition demanding responsible government for the Northwest Territories
Lawrence Clark was chosen as the representative by Riel and his council. Clark returned with the message: the only answer the Métis would receive for their petition was bullets
Clark also reported that a force of 500 North West Mounted Police was on its way to arrest Riel (remember Thomas Scott???)
On March 19th Riel told the Métis that a peaceful solution was impossible and said that “justice commands us to take up arms.”

11. What do you think?… Use examples to prove your position.
How was the 1885 conflict the same and different compared to the 1870 incident? Make a chart.
Based on your knowledge of revolution, rebellion, resistance, civil war…what would you call the conflict of 1885? What did you call the incident in 1870? Explain why.
Which side do you agree with? The Metis or Canada…could they both be right? In a paragraph, explain your position.
Use examples to prove your position.

12. Duck Lake March 26, 1885
- started as negotiations… but quickly got violent
- after 30 minutes, 12 NWMP officers were dead and another 25 wounded
Metis lost only 5 men
Crozier (NWMP) retreated to Fort Carlton, Riel let him go, the Metis did not chase and kill more…A VICTORY FOR THE METIS
Poundmaker and Big Bear (First Nations Chiefs) were asked to help the Metis, but they refused. Some warriors gave limited support…
MacDonald saw this uprising as an opportunity to prove the importance of his Railroad
What do you think??? What would have happened if the Cree Nation had fully supported the Metis? How would history have been different?

13. After Duck Lake
After the Mounties were defeated at Duck Lake, the government sent troops immediately to put down the rebellion.
But still sections of the railway were unfinished and the troops could not ride the rails to Manitoba.
The railroad saw this as a good opportunity to use these events to get another loan to finish the tracks.
The railway supplied sleighs for the troops, but it was still a terrible journey between the unlaid tracks.
5,000 troops and 50 mounted police were now in the West.

14. Fish Creek April 24, 1885
1600 militia clashed with Gabriel Dumont (Metis) and only 60 Metis
They held off the Canadian troops and prevented them from moving to Batoche
Middleton forced to retreat with 10 dead and 45 wounded
Metis 4 dead 2 wounded
ANOTHER METIS VICTORY

15. Batoche- May 9- 12, 1885
Middleton had many new tactics and technologies for this battle- his weapons were far superior to the Metis (including a “machine gun” and cannon)
The Metis made log pits in strategic locations- they kept well hidden
800 milita attacked 180 Metis
Metis held their ground for 3 days
Riel and Dumont met and discussed the fact that they were going to be defeated
MILITIA VICTORY

16. Resistance was Futile
The Métis were eventually defeated by government troops and Louis Riel was arrested.
English Canada, remembering the Thomas Scott affair, wanted the federal government to take tough measures against the Riel.
By contrast, French Canada pressed the government to show leniency toward the French Catholic Riel.
In the end, the federal government was determined to dispose of the man who had led two uprisings in the young country's history

17. Aftermath of the “Conflict”
The consequences of the Conflict would be severe for the Métis and the First Nations people.
After losing the struggle to keep their land, the Métis were forced to live on land reserved for roads and became known as the “road allowance people”.
The Métis also faced discrimination and prejudice, so many moved to the city.
56 First Nation men were charged with treason and then 44 of them were convicted although few First nations people had actively participated in the fighting.

18. Aftermath… For the Aboriginal Peoples;
1) The only Aboriginal rebellion in Canadian history was put down by force.
2) The Aboriginal peoples realized that the government was going to enforce the treaties. They had no other choice but to move onto the reserves.
3) Those who took part in the rebellion lost their annual government payments. Their horses and ammunition were taken.

19. Aftermath… For the Metis;
1) Many fled to the wilderness of northern Alberta.
2) Many took scrip worth $169-$240, but once the money was gone they would have neither money nor land.
3) The Metis nation was broken up.
For French-English Relations in Canada;
1) The split was bitter. Neither side forgave the other for their views of Riel.
2) Hard feeling between Protestants and Catholics lasted long after the execution.

20. Aftermath… For Political Parties;
1) Many in Quebec stopped voting Conservative.
2) Many in Quebec started voting for the Liberal party. Especially after the Liberals elected a French Canadian, Wilfrid Laurier as their leader.
For Western Canada;
1) The railroad was completed to bring troops west.
2) Settlers felt more secure moving west now that the rebellion had been put down.
3) Many of the soldiers stayed and settled in the west.

21. Aftermath of the “Conflict”
Very little translation was available in court, and prisoners were not allowed to make statements in their own defence.
In Battleford, on Nov 17, eight First Nations men were hanged for murder. Those who remained in jail became ill or died soon after release.
The FN were confined to their reserves, at the mercy of the gov’t. Communities were isolated from each other and all ceremonies were banned.

22. Execution & Aftermath
Riel's trial for high treason (1341 British version) was a national spectacle, manipulated by Ottawa.
Despite continuing questions about his sanity, Riel was found guilty and hanged on 16 Nov 1885 in Regina…Riel would not accept an insanity plea. It would be a disgrace and would have made his fellow Metis look foolish for following and insane man.
The trial and its aftermath divided the young country along French and English lines.

23. Riel imprisoned

24. Riel on Trial

25. Exonerating Riel
Riel’s legacy persists today and symbolizes a nation’s continuing struggle to reconcile its linguistic, religious and racial differences
More than 120 years after a Canadian government hanged Riel for treason, Brian Mulroney's government said Canada had "matured as a nation" and called for the official recognition of Riel's, "unique and historic role as a founder of Manitoba and his contribution in the development of Confederation."
Métis leaders told CBC Radio the move was a step in the right direction.
In 2004, Prime Minister Paul Martin said his government was considering naming Riel a Father of Confederation. Still waiting…

26. What Do You Think? Is Louis Riel a Father of Confederation?
Is Louis Riel a hero or a traitor?
Your job is to decide if the conflict was a rebellion, revolution, uprising, civil war (go back to your definitions)…AND, was Riel a hero or traitor (is he father of confederation?)
1 page minimum