Social Studies 10 – Chapter 5 Notes

Part 3: The Northwest Rebellion •

Following the events of 1870, many Métis moved westward into the Northwest Territory to try and re-establish a traditional Seigneurial settlement free from European interference.

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They spent almost 15 years building their settlement and living a relatively peaceful and productive existence.

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By 1884, however, Canadian settlers had begun to move into the area occupied by the Métis under a government plan to populate the prairies.

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The government sent surveyors to divide the land into manageable plots, not taking into account the traditional strip farms of the Métis. Sound familiar?

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The problems of the Red River colony seemed to be repeating themselves.

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The trouble was that the NWT had no elected assembly and no Member of Parliament to represent its inhabitants.

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The Métis once again turned to Louis Riel to lead them in their quest to receive fair treatment from the government.

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In 1884, they had sent a delegation to Montana where Riel was spending his period of exile as a teacher.

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He was smuggled back into Canada where he began to rally the Métis, Native, and white settlers in the area to press the government for better treatment.

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In December of 1884, Riel sent a Petition of Métis Rights to Ottawa stressing his concern over Métis land claims.

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The government ignored this petition.

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As a result, unrest began to intensify in the area and several Northwest Mounted Police officers wrote to Ottawa expressing their confusion over Ottawa’s lack of response to what they saw as the reasonable demands of the Métis.

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Angered by the lack of response from Ottawa, Riel began a speaking tour of the region, delivering speeches designed to rile Métis and fuel their discontent.

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He used phrases like, “striking a blow against Ottawa” and “ruling this country or perishing in the attempt.”

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Riel was laying the groundwork for an armed rebellion.

Rebellion Breaks Out •

The Northwest Rebellion officially began on March 13, 1885.

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After hearing a rumour that 500 NWMP were on their way to arrest Riel, the Métis cut the telegraph lines at Batoche, seized the government buildings, raided the stores and took the employees hostage.

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Riel declared a provisional government with himself as leader and demanded the surrender of the NWMP post at Fort Carlton.

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Rather than surrender the fort, Superintendent Crozier took a group of 98 men and confronted the Métis at Duck Lake, near Batoche.

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The ensuing battle lasted 30 minutes with the Métis emerging victorious.

“The CPR Saves the Country” •

Riel had hoped that the threat of force and negotiation would be enough to secure the Métis demands; however, after Duck Lake, any hopes of a peaceful resolution were ended.

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The government’s response to the Rebellion was to ship soldiers via the newly constructed CPR to put down the uprising.

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In fact, the CPR Syndicate was out of money at this point and was petitioning the government for a $5,000,000 loan to finish the sections in the Rockies.

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The government initially refused the loan, but the speed with which the soldiers reached the Batoche area convinced them that the railway must be finished at any cost.

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The troops from the East launched a four-day assault on the Métis at Batoche.

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By the end, Riel had fled and the Northwest Rebellion had failed.

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Riel surrendered to the NWMP on May 15, 1885 and was held in Regina, awaiting trial for treason.

The Trial of Louis Riel •

Though Louis Riel was being tried for the Rebellion of 1885, the truth is he was really being tried for the events of 1870 and the death of Thomas Scott.

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The trial divided the country, with Francophones supporting Riel and his struggle to protect the Métis way of life, and Anglophones loudly calling for Riel’s conviction and execution.

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The trial started on July 20, 1885, in front of a jury of white, English-speaking Protestants.

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Riel’s lawyers tried to convince him to plead not guilty by reason of insanity because they knew he had no chance of a fair trial.

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Riel refused to do this saying that he would rather die than have his actions dismissed as the ramblings of a madman.

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The jury took only 80 minutes to find Riel guilty, though they did recommend mercy.

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The judge, Hugh Richardson, ignored this recommendation and sentenced Riel to be hanged on September 18, 1885.

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After two failed appeals, Riel was finally hanged on November 16, 1885.