Unit 2- The Development of Western Canada After Confederation the country expanded

west at an astonishing rate.

The changes disrupted the lives of Metis and Aboriginal peoples in the West.

Two uprisings occurred, one in 1869-70 and one in 1885.

The North-West Mounted Police (later the RCMP) were created to help keep order.

By 1885 the Canadian Pacific Railway ran from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific.

And 2 new provinces were created, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Sir John A. Macdonald

Trouble at Red River

In 1869 the Hudson’s Bay Company sells Rupert’s Land to Canada.

The largest group of people in the Red River colony were Metis.

The Metis were people of mixed heritage, Aboriginal and European. Their ways were not entirely Aboriginal, nor were they European.

Many earned their livings as farmers, while others earned their living hauling goods in carts for the trading companies or as agents of the fur trade.

When Rupert’s Land was sold, the Canadian government wasn’t allowed to establish rule until December.

For almost a year, the colony had no legal government to protect their rights.

But before taking control the Canadian government sent out surveyors to the Red River settlement.

The Metis were worried because they had no documents that proved the land was theirs.

They were worried of other settlers coming in and taking their land, plus they had heard a rumour the government was planning to create a railway through their land.

The Metis of Red River turned for leadership to Louis Riel

Resistance at Red River 1869-70

National Committee of the Metis created to decide how to protect Metis Land.

William McDougall is appointed Lieutenant-Govenor for the North-West Territories. He heads to the colony to establish a Canadian government for the territory.

When McDougall arrives at the settlement he is not allowed to enter and is told their will be no governor without Metis consultation.

Louis Riel takes over Fort Garry. From this position the Metis can control the colony.William McDougall

Resistance at Red River 1869-70

The Metis set up a Provisional government to replace the Hudson’s Bay Company rule.

Sir John A. Macdonald sends a messenger to find out what the people of Red River want. The colony does not belong to Canada until December 1st, 1869.

The Metis draw up a Bill of Rights with their requests and send it to Ottawa.

Settlers from Ontario protest and are jailed by Riel.

Riel and the Provisional Government 1870

Resistance at Red River 1869-70

Thomas Scott threatens to escape and kill Riel. Riel orders Scott brought to trial.

Scott is found guilty of disobedience to the lawful government and within 24 hours if brought before a firing squad.

Riel’s Provisional government works out an agreement with Ottawa called the Manitoba Act.

On July 15th, 1870 Manitoba becomes the fifth province.

Fearing for his life, Riel flees to the United States.

The Metis Bill of Rights Major requests; 1) the right to enter Canada’s

confederation as a province.

2) the right to elect and send four Members of Parliament to Ottawa.

3) control over their own local affairs.

4) the right to use both French and English languages especially in schools and law courts.

5) the right to keep their customs, tradition, and Metis way of life.

Depictions of the Execution of Thomas Scott

Painting of Fort Garry

Fort Garry

Chapter 9 The North-West Mounted Police

For years people in the North-West were without a real police force to enforce any of the laws.

There were numerous outlaws and whiskey traders in the area. Without a police force to stop them, they could do pretty much whatever they wanted.

Parliament decided to form the North-West Mounted Police.

The duties of the force were to keep peace, prevent crime and catch criminals. It would be a mounted force.

A chain of posts would be build from Manitoba to the Rocky Mountains. The troops would wear bright red scarlet jackets.

Red was chosen to it was to represent the British empire and also to distinguish the Mounties from the US Calvary which wore the more traditional police blue.

Treaties with Aboriginal Peoples

A treaty is an agreement between peoples or nations, often for friendship, peace, or the purchase of lands and property.

After Confederation the Canadian government wanted to open the western lands form settlement.

To make this happen the government had to approach the Aboriginal peoples to give up their lands.

The government wanted them to move onto reserves. Reserves were pieces of land set aside for Aboriginal peoples. Other people could not settle, hunt or fish in these areas. North-West Mounted Police

Uniform

Treaties with Aboriginal Peoples

The Government’s View

The government thought the people of the plains should farm the land.

In the government’s view, farming was a good alternative way of life for the plains people.

By teaching the plains people how to farm and by giving them land, the government thought it was doing what was best for the Aboriginal peoples

Aboriginal Nations’ View

The Aboriginal peoples did not want to be treated like children.

They had little experience of farming and did not want to be farmers.

For centuries they had established their own governments and lived by their own laws.

They felt they had the right to choose their way of life and to preserve their culture and languages.

Why did Aboriginal Peoples Sign Treaties?

1) The Disappearance of the Buffalo

by the 1870’s Buffalo hunting had become a sport.

Farmers and ranchers complained they destroyed pastures and trampled crops.

Because of the railway, many Buffalo refused to cross the tracks.

By 1879 the Buffalo was almost extinct.

The Buffalo Hunt

The Buffalo Hunt

Why did Aboriginal Peoples Sign Treaties?

2) Increasing Settlement

Now that the North-West police were around it was much safer to settle west.

The railway also made the west much easier to reach for more settlers.

The Aboriginal peoples were worried about losing more land. Maybe the treaties offered a better solution to their problems.

Historical Aboriginal Treaties

Why did Aboriginal Peoples Sign Treaties?

3) Sickness and Disease

Europeans brought with them measles, tuberculosis and smallpox.

Aboriginal people had not developed immunity to them.

The diseases severely lowered the numbers and spirits of the Aboriginal people.

More Pictures

North-West Police meet with Aboriginals

Gabriel Dumont

-famous Metis buffalo hunter. He was an important player in the 1885 rebellion.

-he worked for Buffalo Bill’s travelling wild west show as a sharpshooter.