Overview
This lecture covers the Red River and North-West Metis uprisings, focusing on the causes, major events, consequences, and the impacts on Metis rights and Canadian society.
Vocabulary
- provisional government: a temporary government formed when no other authority can establish legitimate control
- compromise: a course of action balancing conflicting priorities of many stakeholders
- land speculator: someone who buys land to sell it later for profit
- epidemic: infection affecting a large population
- surveyor: person who divides and marks land into separate properties
The Red River Resistance
- In April 1869, Canada bought Rupert’s Land from the Hudson Bay Company (HBC) without consulting local people.
- Metis and other residents feared losing land and rights as surveyors claimed land before the official transfer.
- The Metis, led by Louis Riel, declared a provisional government and issued a declaration to assert authority and demanded negotiations with Canada.
The Manitoba Act
- Manitoba became an officially bilingual province in an attempt to compromise with Red River residents.
- The Act aimed to guarantee Metis land, French language, and Catholic rights.
- First Nations, English-speaking Canadians, and the federal government all had different stakes and interests in the settlement.
The Second Metis Uprising
- After relocating, Metis in South Branch faced more government control, land surveys, and land being granted to speculators.
- The Metis petitions for fair treatment were ignored; Gabriel Dumont sought help from Louis Riel.
- Riel returned, and after Metis declared a new provisional government at Batoche, Canada sent troops.
- The Battle of Batoche resulted in defeat for the Metis; Riel was captured, tried for treason, and executed.
Aftermath and Legacy
- The Manitoba Act’s protection of French and Catholic schools was eliminated by the Manitoba School Act of 1890.
- English became the only official language as demographic shifts favored Protestant, English-speaking settlers.
- Many Metis moved to Alberta, where they established l'Association des Metis de l'Alberta to advocate for their rights.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Provisional government — temporary authority when legitimate government is absent
- Compromise — balancing needs of conflicting groups
- Land speculator — buys land for resale and profit
- Epidemic — widespread disease outbreak
- Surveyor — person who divides land into properties
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read textbook pages 275-276, 279-280, 281-285, 290-291, and 296-297 and answer the corresponding questions on your slides.
- Review the focus questions on the Metis uprisings and their impact on Canada.