Changes:

The Red River Settlement

Between 1860-1870

I. Immigration to the Red River Valley

Population Grew in Red River
Because

A.
1.

2.

Less agricultural land

available in Canada West
Red River had fertile soil

Who migrated to the Red

River Valley?

B.
1.

2.

Protestants
Members of the Orange Order
a.

b.

C.

(violent, anti-Catholic)
movement
Anti-Metis (b/c French &
Catholic)

Increased tensions in Red River

because of immigration

II. The Anti-Metis Movement & Other Problems in the Red

River
Dr. Christian Schultz

A.
1.

2.
3.
4.

Immigrant to Red River in 1860

Use the NorWester the newspaper of the R.R.
to espouse hatred towards the Metis
[The Metis], either be driven from the coutnry,
or kept as cart drivers.
The reality of the R. R. settlement:
a.
b.

12, 000 was the total population

10, 000 were Metis

Economic Problems

B.
1.

2.
3.

Crop failures
Bison population was dwindling
HBC was losing interest in the area
a.

b.

HBC, a British company, was hoping

Confederation would result in the handing over
of Ruperts Land to the new dominion of
Canada
Wanted to lose their administrative
responsibilities in the Red River

Dr. Christian Schultz

II. The Anti-Metis Movement & Other Problems in the Red River continued

The Issue of Land

C.

Ownership in the eyes of the Metis

1.

a.

2.

Ownership in the eyes of HBC settlers

a.
b.

D.

An owner of land is one who clears it, labours & farms on it

Any HBC settler who lives on the land for a minimum of 3 years
Any HBC employee is entitled to farmland in the R. R. region

Trouble is definitely brewing

III. Canada Purchases Ruperts Land

Recall Confederation of 1867

A.
1.
2.

3.

The BNA Act included Canada East

(Ont), Canada West (Que), NS & NB
Included the eventual acquisition of all
BNA colonies (ie PEI) & Ruperts land
from the HBC.
The goal was a dominion of Canada
a.

from sea to sea or A mari usque ad

mare

Negotiations to Transfer Ruperts Land

to Canada

B.
1.
2.

No one consulted the Metis

By Nov 1869 the Canadian Govt
received title to Ruperts Land
a.

3.

And also gained the North-Western

Territory (presently known as the
Northwest Territory)

HBC received
a.
b.
c.

$1.5 million
2.8 million hectares of land
The right to continue the fur trade

III. Canada Purchases Ruperts Land continued

C.

Dominion of Canada Surveyors Plan new Townships of Red

River
1.
Surveyors disregarded old seigneurial system & did not
recognize any previous rights to farmland

Louis Riel, Leader & Spokesperson for the Metis

D.
1.

2.

His father was Cuthbert Grant (NWC trader) who

married a Cree woman (little is known about her)
Riel will lead a rebellion in the Red River

Video, Louis Riel Part I & II