1. Louis Riel & Rebellion in the North-West
Mr. Bausback
SS 10
Class Notes

2. Who was Louis Riel? Famous Manitoban? Traitor? Power-hungry prophet?
Father of the Metis Nation?
Saint?
Traitor?
Power-hungry prophet?
Madman?
Sinner?

3. HIS BACKGROUND:
Born 1844, in St. Boniface, the Red River colony, under HBC rule.
Parents—Louis Riel and Julie Lagimodiere, strong Catholic family
Proud to be Metis—ancestors were French, English, Scottish fathers and First Nations mothers
Educated as Priest, Lawyer, Teacher
Heritage of buffalo hunting and trading
READ P. 7-9

4. LOUIS RIEL DAY, FEBRUARY 2008

5. LOUIS RIEL DAY, FEBRUARY 2008

6. I. Background to Rebellion:
1868 Canadian government paid Hudson Bay Company $1,500,000 to buy Rupert’s Land
Land was renamed- North-West Territories or NWT- transferred to Canada in 1869
Government surveys the land for townships for new European immigrants
Metis live at Red River Settlement and maintain own way of life
Metis were angered at arrival of surveyors and attempted to stop from happening
William McDougall is appointed Lieutenant-Governor of NWT without local approval

7. Rupert’s Land:

8. II. Red River Rebellion-Resistance, 1869-70- Background:
An educated Louis Riel emerged as a leader of the Metis
Riel set up Le Comite National de Metis (NCM)as a temporary government at Red River
Purpose is to bargain with Canadian government for the land, language, and religious rights of the Metis
NCM:
1. Stops McDougall from entering Red River;
2. Seizes HBC post at Fort Garry;
3. Create a List of Rights- conditions by which the Metis will join Canada
Prime Minister John A. Macdonald did not want the settlement to become part of Canada until the claim was resolved
1869, Riel set up a provisional government which he headed

9. Metis Way of Life:

10. II. Red River Rebellion-Resistance, 1869-70- Metis List of Rights:
List of rights include:
Right to approve or reject Federal laws affecting Red River;
Right to have land set aside for schools, roads, and public buildings;
Every male householder over 21 could vote
Riel and the Metis took their List of Rights to Ottawa to be accepted by the Federal Government

11. Metis Symbol:

12. II. Red River Rebellion-Resistance, 1869-70- Thomas Scott:
Thomas Scott was a surveyor, member of the Canada Party, and a Protestant member of the Orange Order (anti-Catholic group)
Scott was given permission to drive Metis out of Red River and actively protested against the Metis government, uttering threats against Riel
Scott was jailed by the Metis for his actions
Metis council found Scott guilty of insubordination and disobedience and sentenced to death- Scott was executed in 1870

13. Thomas Scott
Read p.27-30

14. II. Red River Rebellion-Resistance, 1869-70- Government Responds:
Ontario Protestants called Riel and the Metis murderers and demanded that the Federal Government send out an army to end the uprising at Red River
While Quebec Catholics protested any interference, the Federal Conservatives cautiously attempted to resolve the situation
The government decided that the Metis settlement at Red River should join Confederation
July, 1870, the Manitoba Act was passed creating the “Postage Stamp” province of Manitoba- Canada’s 5th province
Many of the Metis Rights were included in the Manitoba Act and the creation of the province allowed for greater Metis’ control over matters

15. Assignment:
Complete Review Master R-10 Chapter 4: The Northwest to 1070:
I. Important People, Groups, & Events: 1-4;8;10-12;14-16
II. Main Ideas & Concepts: 1-5
III. Comprehension: 3-6; 8-10
IV. Crossword
Due next week!

16. Manitoba- Canada’s 5th Province- Postage Stamp:

17. Louis Riel –Provisional Government:
Read p.18-21

18. II. Red River Rebellion-Resistance, 1869-70- Dealing with Riel:
1870, Macdonald ordered a military expedition under Colonel Wolseley to deal with Riel and his actions
Fearing death for the murder of Thomas Scott, Riel fled to the US where he remained until 1884
Riel was elected as a Member of Parliament for Manitoba and was pardoned for the killing of Scott in 1875 by Macdonald

19. III. Riel and the North-West Rebelllion, 1885- Background:
1870’s Metis were pushed further and further into the North-West Territories
Living conditions of the Metis were poor- their lots were bought and re-surveyed by Ottawa; land speculators and new immigrants were buying up land- thus disrupting traditional hunting and farming practices of the Metis
Metis petitioned Ottawa for changes
Macdonald repsonded with promise and scrip or promisary certificates fpr land and cash
Metis once again set up a Provisional Government

20. Metis Migration:

21. Riel and the North-West Rebelllion, 1885- Return of Riel:
Metis needed proper leadership- Metis leader Gabriel Dumont traveled to Montana to convince a retired, very religious, teacher Louis Riel to return and lead new Metis negotiations with Ottawa
Reluctantly, Riel agreed to return and lead the Provisional Government of the North-West Territory in negotiating Metis rights with Ottwa
First Nations bands led by Poundmaker and Big Bear also supported the Metis

22. Metis & Native Leaders in the North-West Territories:

23. Riel and the North-West Rebelllion, 1885:
1885, Federal Government, not wanting to negotiate with the Metis, sent out the military to silence Riel and the Metis
Under the leadership of General Middleton, 8,000 soldiers were sent out on the newly created Canadian Pacific Railway to deal with the Metis
So began the rebellion with battles at:
Duck Lake- Metis vs. General Crozier and the NWMP; 12 NWMP dead/5 Metis dead
Frog Lake- 9 total dead
Fish Creek- Dumont vs. Middleton
Batoche- Riel, Dumont, & Metis vs. Middleton & NWMP; 4 day fight; Riel defeated

24. Battle in the North-West:

25. Riel and the North-West Rebelllion, 1885- Riel’s Defeat & Trial:
After Batoche, Riel and Dumont escape, but Riel turns himself in
Riel is arrested and tried for treason- taking up arms against the government
1885, Regina, Riel is found guilty by a jury of 5 English- speaking Protestant jurors and is sentenced to hang
November 16th, 1885, Louis Riel is hanged despite protests from French Catholic Canadiens, pleas for a pardon, and a failed bid to plead insane
The of Louis Riel and his role in Canadian history continues: Hero or Traitor? Sane or Insane? Selfless or Selfish?

26. Louis Riel Timeline:

28. Louis Riel- Red River Timeline:

29. Louis Riel- North-West Rebellion Timeline:

30. Louis Riel- Hero or Traitor?

31. Louis Riel Day:

32. Louis Riel’s Grave:

33. The End!