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Grant to the Hudson's Bay Company
The British Crown granted the Hudson's Bay Company a large area of land called Ruport's land. The region included prairie grassland that was part of the range of great buffalo hereds. In the far west, the Rocky Mountains formed a natural barrier with the west coast. Rupert's Land also included a large woodland region to the north. The wooded area was source of prized furs, such as beaver pelts. Rupert's Land was home to many First Nations, Métis people, and a few non-Aborignial fur traders. -
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The Buffalo Economy
Buffalo -
Thomas Douglas puchased land
Thomas Douglas, the Earl of Selkirk purshased land in Southermn Manitoba from the Hudson's Bay Company. -
Scottish Setllers
Thomas Douglas brought his first group of scottish settlers to North America. Douglas called his colony Assiniboa, but most people calle dit the Red River Colony or Red River Settlement. The new settlers found in the area inhabited by Métis people. Some Métis families had lived at Red River for generations. Most people farmed and worked for the North West Company (NWC). -
Pemmican disbanded
The colony's governer the export of pemmican. He wantedf to be sure his settlers would have enough to eat, thus angering the Métis, who depended on the pemmican trade. -
The Battle of Seven Oaks
A group of Métis peope led by cuthbert grant encountered the colony's new governer, Robert Semple, and his men. The result is known as the Battle of Seven Oaks. -
New Selkirk settlers continued to face battles
Selkirk arrived with more settlers. However, the settlement continued to face battles, this time from the natural world. Frost, grassshoppers, and a major flood wiped out crops and settlemnts in the years that followed. -
HBC and NWC merged
the HBC and the NWC merged. The rivalry that stirred up conflict was now over. In the years of peace that followed, the Métis population grew rapidly. -
Vancouver island became British Colony
Vancouver Island and the surrounding islands in the Gulf of Georgia became a British colony. -
Period: to
The Douglas Treaties
After Vancouver Island became a colony, James Douglas negotiated treaties to acquire First Nations land for settlements and mining. Between 1850 and 1854, Douglas negotiated fourteen treaties with First Nations. -
Before Gold Rush
New Caledonia had a population of about 55 000. The land was occupied by many First Nations, along with the few non-Aboriginalfur trappers and traders. -
End to the Treaties
Treaty- making on Vanccouver Island ended in 1854, when the colony ran out of money for further expansiion. -
Red River was completely isolated
Red River seemed completely isolated from other settlements on the continent. However, this situation was about to change. -
US Railway reached St. Paul
The United States railway system reached St. Paul, Minnesota. Carts from Red River already travelled regularly to St. Paul. The rail system made increased trade between the communties seemd likely. Politicians in Canada west became increasingly anxious to claim Red River as their own -
Gold!
In 1851, New Caledonia had a population of 55,000 people. The land was occupied by many First Nations, along with a few non- Aboriginal fur trappers and traders. In 1858 everything changed. Gold was discovered on the lowerr Fraser River. In 1862 another major discovery sent gold seekers farther upriver to the Cariboo District. -
Britain ended HBC control
Britain ended HBC control over the area and established British Columbia as a colony. The Crown's fears of losing the region to the Americans lessened. However, the transfer of control didn't change the local situatiion significantly. The miners continued their quest for gold and the murders of the Salish First Nation protesters were never resolved. -
Gold Discovery; at the beginning
Everything changed. Gold was discovered on the lower Fraser River. The discovery of gold immediately affected First Nations. The Salish First nation, which lived in the interior of British Columbia, believed the heavy yellow pebbles that that excited gold seekers were part of their land and therefore "not for taking." At the very least, they believed the miners should payb a fee to the Salish in return for mining on their land. -
Immigration
Most gold seekers arrived in Victoria by boat. Victoria's population soared from around 500 people before the goild rush to between 10,000 and 20,000 people in less than a year. People lived in tents until they could get their miming permit and move to the mainland. Miners came from England, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Austraila, and China -
Upgraded trails to Goldfeilds
Work began to upgrade trails to their goldfields. Mainly Chinese First Nations took on the difficult, dangerous work. Getting to the goldfields was only half the battle. Once there, prospectors spent days looking for gold, ususally unsuccessfully. -
Miners ignored First Nations Land rights.
Miners ignored First Nations land rights. On August 14, 1858, A crowd of Salish people gathered to protest. The miners opened fire, killing seven Salish people. Fearing retaliation, the miners asked the American government for protection. Many miners had come from the United States. THe Hudsons Bay Company, the only government auhtority in the area feared they were losing control of the region. The British Crown stepped in. -
Another Discovery
Another major discovery sent gold seekers farther upriver to the Cariboo District -
Cariboo Gold Rush
During the Fraser River gold rush, miners worked rivers and streams up to the Lillooet area. Later gold discoveries in the Cariboo District brought miners further north and east. -
Cariboo Road
The 600 kilometre Cariboo Road had improved enough that a stagecoach could run all the way to Barkerville.
