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Settlement of Metis in the Red River Valley
A large number of Metis settled near the junction of the Red River and the Assiniboine River. This is now southern Manitoba. They developed a unique combination of traditions, both First Nations and European. -
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Selkirk Timespan
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Thomas Douglas Established Colonies
Thomas Douglas, the fifth Earl of Selkirk (known mainly as Selkirk), established colonies in both P.E.I., and Upper Canada. After doing so, he decided to use his influence in the HBC to begin a far greater project. -
Selkirk Granted Land
Selkirk used his influence to convince the HBC to grant him 300,000 square kilometers of land in what is now Manitoba and North Dakota. Selkirk and HBC thought they had legal rights to the territory since it was part of Rupert's Land, but they didn't think about the people already living there. Selkirk wanted to help tenant farmers in Europe who were being evicted by establishing agricultural colonies. -
European Labourers Leave Britian
36 Scottish and Irish labourers left Britain and traveled to the Selkirk Grant to find a suitable spot for colonists. They arrived at the York Factory late in the summer, and had to spend the winter there. -
Labourers Arrive
After spending the winter at the York Factory, the European labourers finally arrive at Red River. -
Colonists Arrive
More than 100 men, women, and children arrived at Red River, about two months after the labourers had arrived. They had to shelter at Fort Pembina and survive on supplies of pemmican. During the spring, Miles Macdonell, an ex-militia officer who led the European labourers to Canada, brought the group back to the Red River Valley. They cleared the land and planted crops, but the crops ended up failing, and for a second time, the colonists had to spend the winter at Fort Pembina. -
Pemmican Proclamation
Macdonell was worried that the crops might fail for a second year, so he issued the Pemmican Proclamation. It stopped anyone from selling or exporting pemmican for one year, so as to keep the colonists from starving. This may have been good for the colonists, but it was bad for the Metis of the area, who made a lliving from pemmican trade. The Metis became very angry, and so did NWC, since they relied on pemmican to supply their fur traders. -
NWC Plans to Drive Out Colonists
NWC ordered Alexander Macdonell and Duncan Cameron (two of its employees), to drive out the British colonists. Cameron asked the Metis to help with this, and had Cuthbert Grant appointed as Captain of the Metis. They harassed the colonists by burning buildings, destroying crops, and firing rifles during the night. -
Colonists Leave
By the beginning of 1815, more than 100 colonists had left the Selkirk Settlement, due to the harassment by NWC, and Miles Macdonell (governor of the Red River Colony) had been arrested. Soon after, the rest of the colonists had left to go to the Norway House, located at the north end of Lake Winnipeg. -
Robert Semple Arrives
The colonists are led back to the Red River Valley by Colin Robertson (an HBC factor). Robertson wanted to make peace with the Metis and NWC, until Robert Semple (the new governor for the colony) could arrive. When Semple arrived, along with 86 other colonists, he was warned by Robertson to cooperate with NWC and the Metis. Sadly he did not... -
Metis Raiding Parties
Due to the fact Semple ordered the burning of Fort Gibraltar (and empty post belonging to NWC), Cuthbert Grant led Metis raiding parties on several HBC York boats, taking a large supply of pemmican. Cuthbert chose to move the pemmican to Lake Winnipeg, so they could supply NWC traders. While traveling, Grant avoided the Red River Colony, but ended up being spotted by a colonist lookout. Semple assembled his men for an assault on the Metis. -
The Battle of Seven Oaks
Semple and 28 other men rode out to face the Metis. The Metis split into two groups and surrounded Semple and his men, though Semple failed to notice it. Grant attempted a parley, but it failed when one of Semple's men fired at the Metis. The fight began, and within 15 minutes, it was over. One Metis had been killed, while 21 of the colonists, including Semple were dead. This skirmish was known as the Battle of Seven Oaks, but the Metis called it the Victory at Frog Plain. -
Selkirk Returns
Lord Selkirk came to visit the colony, bringing 100 Swiss mercenaries as a protective force. After hearing about the Battle of Seven Oaks, he moved west, and took control of an NWC post (Fort William). He then went to the Red River Valley, and took control of the area. The colonists returned to the settlement after being promised protection by the Swiss soldiers. -
Selkirk Negotiates a Treaty
Selkirk negotiated a treaty with the Anishinabe and Cree Nations to lease land along the Assiniboine River, and the Red River. He distributed the land among the colonists. When Selkirk left the Rd River Valley, he thought he had left the colony in peace, and settled matters with the NWC. -
Selkirk Returns to England
Though Selkirk had believed that the matters with NWC were settled, he was wrong. After returning to England, he was confronted with lawsuits that were filed against him and his employees. For the next three years, he waged a very expensive court battle. -
Selkirk Dies
Selkirk died in the spring of 1820. He was a couple months shy of his 49th birthday.
