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1870 BCE
Forces Arrive in Manitoba
The government had appeased the Metis- now they needed to calm the public. A large armed force was sent to Winnipeg with instructions to keep the peace until the provincial government took power. Louis Riel wisely sensed danger, and fled Canada. All members of the provisional government were granted amnesty, except for him. He went quietly, and spent the next 15 years in the US. The Metis were left without their leader, and the government knew peace really had been restored, and would stay. -
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Red River Rebellion
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Immigrants Arrive in Red River
By 1860, most of the fertile land to the East had been settled. This lead to new immigrants being driven West, and the fertile land of the Red River Valley attracted many newcomers. The consequences for the Metis were that most of the settlers were English Protestants, and were very prejudiced against the Metis. This increased tension for everyone in the Red River. The consequence for the government was that they now had to deal with possible conflicts. -
Purchase of Rupert's Land
Between 1867 and 1868, the government of Canada and the Hudson's Bay company negotiated the sale of Rupert's Land. No one thought to consult the inhabitants of Rupert's Land, so when surveyors came to lay out townships, they ignored what people had done already. The impact on the government was them gaining a huge swath of land and the ability to govern it. The impact on the Metis was uncertainty about the future and a forced change to their ways -
Return of Louis Riel
Louis Riel returned to Red River when his father, Louis Riel Sr. died. The elder Riel had been the leader of the Metis until his death, and the younger returned to assume that role. He was fluent in French and English, and was trained in law. The impact on the Metis was to give them a strong leader, with new ideas and strategies. The government now had to deal with a unified force of Metis. -
Arrival of William McDougall
William McDougall was sent to the North-West Territories as governor. He was greeted by the Metis National Committee, which had formed under Riel to fight for their lands. Macdougall was told to go back to Ottawa, the Metis would govern themselves. Next, the Metis occupied Fort Garry and claimed its munitions. This was the official start of the Red River Rebellion. The rebellion gave the Metis a real sign that they would not be ignored, and made the government realize that as well. -
Provisional Government Established
The Metis had no intention of going up against the national government. They only wanted the people of the Red River Valley to retain their rights. The provisional government was set up so order could be maintained and a compromise reached. Their main goal was to get the Valley incorporated into Canada as a province. The consequences for the Metis was an organized force protecting them. The government now had to negotiate with a government rather than placate rebellions. -
John Schultz Taken Captive
John Schultz was the founder of the Canadian Party, an anti-Metis political group. Riel lead an armed group to his house/party headquarters, and took him and 48 of his followers to Fort Garry. Riel declared that he was ready to negotiate with the government. Prime Minister John.A.Macdonald refused to negotiate, or even recognize the provisional government. The Metis had just taken their first offensive move, opening them to harsh retribution. The government now had a much more serious situation. -
Escape of Schultz from Fort Garry
While the provisional government was drafting a proposal for the creation of Manitoba, Schultz was escaping. He plotted with the (white) people of Red River to go back and free the remaining prisoners, but before he could properly attack, his raiders clashed with the Metis, and were arrested again. The Metis were proving that their government was a force to be reckoned with. The government was seeing resistance to the resistance being quashed, and wondering if negotiation might work after all. -
Execution of Thomas King
Among the new captives was Thomas King, the most violent member of the Canadian Party. During his imprisonment, he abused his guards, proclaimed his anti-Metis sentiments, and threatened the life of Louis Riel. On March 4, he was executed by firing squad. Many people in Red River regretted his death, but also thought the crisis had passed. However, Schultz made King into a martyr. This changed public opinion against the Metis, making their fight harder and influencing the government's decisions -
Red River Delegation Heard in Ottawa
In late April, the representatives of the Red River provincial government were finally seen by the government. They agreed to make Manitoba a province, but didn't give the province full control. Instead, the Metis were granted 200,000 hectares of land in recognition of their Aboriginal status. On May 2nd, the bill was officially passed. The Metis had gotten what they wanted, or at least part of it. The government was assured that tensions were finally laid to rest.