Transcript Northwest rebellion - Ms. Amado's Social Studies Weebly

Métis and FN in the Northwest, Riel Returns, Métis Bill
of Rights
NORTHWEST REBELLION
MÉTIS IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
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1884 losing patience
with Canadian
Government
Unclear status under the
Indian Act
Not part of the treaty
process
Increasing immigration of
settlers
Feared loss of rights
MÉTIS WANTED LAND TITLE
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The Métis in the
Territory did not
“receive” land as in
Manitoba
The Métis who had land
had not received title for
that land
FIRST NATIONS STARVING
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FN signed treaties gave
up their land and moved
to reserves.
government broke
promises about
providing food after the
buffalo were all but
killed off.
Government refused to
feed “difficult people”
“They made us many promises, more
than I can remember, but they kept only
one; they promised to take our land,
and they did.”
Chief Red Cloud
FIRST NATIONS IN NEED OF HELP
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First Nations came to
the Métis and settlers
for help and aid
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The Métis and settlers
angry
felt they had to pay for
the government’s
broken promises.
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Both FN and Métis hurting from the loss of the
bison
-in need of farming assistance that never shows
MÉTIS PETITIONS
Sent to the government to try to make sure Métis rights
are recognized
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AGENDA
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Surveys told the
government that 6. 4
million hectares of land
= 71 million dollars in
government revenue
NO Métis petition was
going to stand in the
way
Here we go, the start of the Northwest rebellion
MÉTIS TAKE ACTION!
WHERE IS RIEL?
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After Red River/
Thomas Scott
Sent into exile 5 years,
lasted 15
Turned to religion
Convinced he is a profit
Time in a asylum
Settled in Montana
Married, 2 kids, teacher
(like me!)
1884 Métis
needed a strong
and iconic leader
Gabriel Dumont
asked Riel to
return as the
Métis Leader
RETURN OF THE KING!
MÉTIS BILL OF RIGHTS
Addressed Métis grievances
 Written by Riel and William Henry Jackson (local
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farmer representative)
Included concerns of Métis and non-Métis
people (FN, European farmers) living in the Northwest
Territories
 Sent to Ottawa Dec 1884 and acknowledged by
gov., but rights ignored!
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DID THE GOVERNMENT WANT A REBELLION?
Rebellion would prove:
-the Métis were violent and unruly
Crushing the
Rebellion would:
-Prove the value of
and need for the
CPR
-Free up Métis land
for settlement
-Ensure Métis did
not gain land rights
-Did
Clarke promote
a rebellion?
•Just
like Red River, Riel asked the government for
negotiations to protect rights for those living in the prairies…
-Métis BILL of Rights 1884
-the government ignored and rejected Métis claims
GOVERNMENT PREPARES FOR REBELLION
The government passed a law making it illegal to sell
bullets to the Métis living in the Northwest Territories.
AGAIN RIEL SENDS ANOTHER PETITION
-Riel
knew the government was in possession of the Métis Bill of
Rights
-This petition demanded responsible government for the
Northwest Territories
HBC Chief Factor and
Magistrate Lawrence
Clarke became the
government’s informant
Wants the Métis gone
-Made a ton of cash in
land speculation
-Feared lose everything if
Métis granted land rights
GOVERNMENT PREPARES FOR THE REBELLION
RIEL AND CLARKE- THE FINAL STRAW!
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Riel picked Clarke as
their representative
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Political connections
Riel assumed sympathetic
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Clarke went to Ottawa
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The only answer the Métis
will receive for their petition
was bullets
500 NWMP to arrest Riel
JUSTICE COMMANDS US!
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March 19 Riel at
Batoche
Peaceful solution
impossible
Canadian government
determined to make war
“justice commands us
to take up arms”
BATTLE OF DUCK LAKE MAY 26 1885
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Métis moved on Fort
Carlton to seize supplies
NWMP Superintendent Lief
Crozier confronted Métis
army at Duck Lake
Negotiations failed- 2 Métis
shot!
Both sides open fire
MÉTIS VICTORY AT DUCK LAKE
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the Métis were better
marksmen, and, they
knew the land
better…they were
victorious at Duck Lake.
12 NWMP dead, 25
wounded
Fort Carlton evacuated
EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!
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Canadian government
mobilized 5000 troops
Troops arrive in just 5
days! Entire force in 10
days!- Thanks CPR
General Middleton in
charge
BATTLE OF FISH CREEK
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Dumont knew to
ambush Canadian
troops before they
reached Batoche
Ambushed at Fish Creek
300 Métis stopped 1600
militia soldiers
CANADIAN ARMY HAS GATLING GUN
RIEL’S MENTAL STATE?
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Said God himself was
talking to him and telling
him he was “the chosen
leader of the Métis
people”.
During battles, he would
find a hill and climb to
the top, hold a crucifix
over his head to bless the
Métis soldiers.
BATTLE OF BATOCHE MAY 9
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Métis strongholdBatoche attacked by
Canadian troops
Had canons and Gatling
Gun (modern day
machine gun)
Métis short on bullets
and used rocks
BATTLE OF BATOCHE
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Métis defeated- surrender or flee
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Dumont fled to the US
Riel surrendered May 15- thought trial could bring his
cause to attention
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Death toll
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53 Canadian soldiers and volunteers
35 Métis and First Nations
CHIEF POUNDMAKER
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Refused to join the NW
Rebellion
Believed resistance was
futile
His people attacked by
Canadian troops at Cut
Knife Hill
Arrested for treason,
sentenced to 3 years
CHIEF BIG BEAR
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Refused to join the NW
Rebellion
1885 his people refused
supplies at Frog Lake
Wandering Spirit took 9
hostages- killed
Big Bear convicted of
treason- 3 years
Wandering Spirit executed
CHIEF CROWFOOT
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Refused to join NW
Rebellion
Railway dispute
Railway building on his
reserve
Peaceful negotiations
Got compensated with
extra land
Willaim Van Horne
awarded him CPR lifetime
pass
TRIAL OF RIEL JULY 28 1885
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Taken to Regina and
charged with treason
Lawyers wanted Insane
defense
Riel wanted to argue
Métis forced to fight
Not allowed to testify or
question witnesses
6 man jury
FOUND GUILTY OF TREASON AUGUST 1
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Found guilty after 1
hour- jury
recommended mercy
Law required death
penalty
Quebec petitions
demanded mercy
Hanged November 16
1885
MÉTIS
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No land titles, forced to
squat on public land
reserved for roads
Half-breed became an insult
Moved into cities to hide
ancestry
FIRST NATIONS
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81 charged with murder or
treason- 44 convicted
No translation in court
8 hanged for murder in
Battleford November 17
At the mercy of the
government
MÉTIS AND FIRST NATIONS
HERO OR VILLAIN?