CONFLICT IN RED RIVER LIFE IN RED RIVER

CONFLICT IN RED RIVER

LIFE IN RED RIVER 1820 -1860 With the merger of the HBC & NWC into one company, peace had come to the Red River Valley q The settlement developed into a close-knit community made up mostly of Metis &Scottish immigrants Population of Red River in 1860: q 5, 720 French Metis 4, 080 English Metis 2, 428 Scottish Immigrants

CHANGES IN RED RIVER � By the 1860 s, the fur trade started to decline and more people began to move to the area, attracted by the rich soil and farmland How would these factors affect the Metis and their way of life ?

CHANGES IN RED RIVER � Many new arrivals were Protestant, and members of the Orange Order, an anti. French, anti-Catholic group who considered the Metis as nothing more than ‘half-breeds” “The Metis are stupid and careless, and like the native tribes of the country, will fall back before the march of superior intelligence” John Schultz, Orange Order leader

CANADA PURCHASES RUPERT’S LAND q Soon after Confederation, Canada decided to begin negotiations to purchase Rupert’s Land from the HBC. q Nobody consulted those living in Red River, who became alarmed at the rumours, especially the Metis q In 1868, government surveyors arrived in the Red River Valley to survey the land WHY WOULD THE ARRIVAL OF SURVEYORS ALARM THE METIS?

CANADA PURCHASES RUPERT’S LAND

RESISTANCE IN RED RIVER � In 1868, a Metis named Louis Riel returned to Red River after being educated as a lawyer in Montreal � The Metis were angry that the surveyors were ignoring their rights to the land � Riel, only 24, told the surveyors they were trespassing and stopped them from working

RESISTANCE IN RED RIVER � Next, Riel took a group of armed Metis, took over Ft Garry, and set up a Provisional Government to maintain order in Red River, protect Metis rights, and negotiate an agreement to enter Confederation on their own � PM Macdonald decides to postpone the transfer of Rupert’s Land until he could resolve the matter “We must not think of military force until peaceful means have been exhausted. Should these miserable half-breeds not disband, they must be put down”

RIEL’S PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT

RESISTANCE IN RED RIVER � The Orange Order of Red River didn’t like the Metis ‘half breeds’ being in charge, and began to harass the Metis people � Riel arrested their leaders, including Thomas Scott, who aggressively and violently threatened to kill Riel, even from his prison cell � Riel eventually tried and executed Scott for treason DID RIEL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE SCOTT ?

REACTION IN CANADA � The execution of Scott, an Irish protestant, caused outrage in Ontario (protestant), who demanded his arrest � People in Quebec (Catholic), supported Riel for standing up for Metis rights IF YOU ARE PM MACDONALD, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE THE SITUATION ?