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Pemmican Proclamation
The Pemmican Proclamation was a ban on the sale of Pemmican (a mix of dried meat, fat and berries) The ban was meant to protect the colonists from starvation. This prevention of Pemmican exportation from the Red River Valley caused the Metis to lose money from the sales of Pemmican. This ban contributed to the Northwest Rebellion. -
Battle of the Seven Oaks aka the Pemmican War
The Battle was between a party of Metis lead by Cuthbert Grant of the Northwest Company and a group of Hudson's Bay Company men and Selkirk settlers lead by Governor Robert Semple. There was tension between two ways of life, the fur trader and the permanent settlers. Cutbert Grant seized a supply of Pemmican from the HBC with had originally been stolen from the Metis which caused the war and 21 HBC men died and 1 Metis man. The HBC settlers packed up and left the area. -
Canada buys Ruperts Land
The HBC sold Rupert's Land because the fur trade had been declining.The HBC felt pressure from Great Britain and sold the land for $1.5Mil. Both parties didn't take into consideration that the land belonged to the Metis and didn't consult them at all when making the deal. The land was 8Mil square km and is now part of Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba. Later it created Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories. If Canada didn't buy it there was fear the United States would take it over. -
Canadian Surveyors enter Red River Settlement
Before the land was transferred from the HBC to the Dominion of Canada surveyors were sent out to resurvey the land. Canada sent out a contractor to build a road from Red River to Lake of the Woods. The surveyors wanted to plan out where settlements would go. The Metis were worried that their land would be taken from them. The government made no promises to guarantee that they would be able to keep their land. Riel as the leader of the group, wouldn't let the land surveyors in to the colony. -
Metis Seize Fort Garry
Riel with 120 armed men took over Fort Garry. Governor William MacTavish had no troops to support him. The Metis took Upper Fort Garry because of its great walls and cannons. After the end of the HBC government rule over Upper Fort Garry, people did not know where to turn, some were in support of Louis Riel's government others didn't know if the British or Americans would take over and control the colony. Riel bargained with the federal government about the Metis list of rights. -
Riel sets up Provisional Government (temporary government)
After the Metis seized Fort Garry they set up a provisional government, Louis Riel was chosen as the leader because he was ambitious, bi-lingual and well educated. On December 10th the provisional government put the red flag on the flag pole for the first time. Riel did not want conflict, he set up the provisional government to make sure that the Metis had power to negotiate an agreement to enter confederation. Any action against Riel's government by the Canadian party would be against the law. -
Red River Resistance aka the Red River Rebellion
Within the Red River Resistance there were many events that all contributed to the rebellion. The uprising of the Red River colony was sparked by the transfer of Ruperts land. Land surveyors started to divide up the land. The Metis were worried that their rights would not be respected and their way of life not protected. Louis Riel came back to red river in 1884 to lead the Metis to justice. -
Manitoba Act
The Metis negotiating committee brought a list of rights to Ottawa.Louis Riel helped the Metis people get rights like, the official use of English and French language, the right to Catholic and Protestant schools,and the right to vote. By May 2nd,1880, after much debate and negotiation, most of the list was shown to the House of Commons. The new Act under debate was called the Manitoba Act,it included land rights and entry into Confederation for the Métis of Red River. On May 12th the Act passed -
Thomas Scott Executed
Thomas Scott was an Irish immigrant, he was involved politically with the Red River Settlement. He was anti-Metis and disliked Riel. He was part of the raid on Fort Garry and was arrested. He was very difficult with a bad temper, even his fellow inmates didn't want to be near him. After a physical assault on the guards, the guards were exhausted. Scott went on trial for treason and was found guilty. He was executed by firing squad with Riel's approval on March 4th 1870 in Fort Garry. -
Louis Riel Returns to Red River
The Canadian Government and settlers were taking Metis and Native land without any consent. Riel came back from exile to lead the Metis, they tried peaceful protesting first, then eventually took up arms, Louis Riel was hanged on November 16th 1885 for treason with his involvement in the Northwest Rebellion.
