CH. 5 THE PRAIRIES

CH. 5 THE PRAIRIES

THE METIS FLEE WESTWARD

THE METIS FLEE WESTWARD

The Manitoba Act - 1870.Fr. & Eng. = official languages.Two ed. Systems

Protestant & Catholic.1.4 million acres for Metis

The Manitoba Act - 1870.Fr. & Eng. = official languages.Two ed. Systems

Protestant & Catholic.1.4 million acres for Metis

PROBLEMS- MacDonald’s peace agents were cruel to Metis.- Land ownership & scrip.

- $160 or quarter section of land ($1 per acre).

- Metis did not understand (Rules - Ex. cultivation & lotteries )

and land speculators took advantage at low prices.

-Threatened Metis with prison.Result - Many Metis left Manitoba and moved further west.

MANITOBA 1870

1870 Man. Act -> Most of it was based on the Metis List of Rights

Frustrated Metis moved West

THE METIS IN THE NORTHWESTTHE METIS IN THE NORTHWEST

Tried to recreate Red River further west.Seigneural land patterns, Catholic

churches, farming, buffalo, & HBC.By 1870 problems arose.

Bison declined - Laws of St. Laurent.Food & pemmican/income became

scarce. Magistrate Clarke appointed.

He ran the HBC & laws of the N.West.Conflict of interest????

HBC always got priority over Metis.ie. Revoked Laws of St. Laurent

Tried to recreate Red River further west.Seigneural land patterns, Catholic

churches, farming, buffalo, & HBC.By 1870 problems arose.

Bison declined - Laws of St. Laurent.Food & pemmican/income became

scarce. Magistrate Clarke appointed.

He ran the HBC & laws of the N.West.Conflict of interest????

HBC always got priority over Metis.ie. Revoked Laws of St. Laurent Why did US gov’t encourage the

decimation of the buffalo?

THE NWMPTHE NWMPBy 1873, the Canadian government establishedthe North West Mounted Police to patrol theNorthwest.

REASONS FOR THE NWMP-Whisky traders from the US, were coming north and used cheap liquor to take advantage of the Native peoples.-It was feared the US would work its way north and assimilate Canada’s Northwest.- Did not want “Wild West” of the USA.

CYPRESS HILLS MASSACRE

30 Assinboine killedby Whiskey traders caused outrage in

Canada.

FORT WHOOP-UP

99% Alcohol(20-40% normal)

NWMP

Treaties with the Native Peoples

Treaties with the Native Peoples

Settlement of the west would not be possible without treaties and 1896 Indian Act (See next slide).

Treaty conditions were often ignored.Unkept promises =>Farm equipment, supplies,

farming techniques.Reserve land often small & poor land.Gov’t dependency increased.

Between 1874-1877,7 treaties signed.

Settlement of the west would not be possible without treaties and 1896 Indian Act (See next slide).

Treaty conditions were often ignored.Unkept promises =>Farm equipment, supplies,

farming techniques.Reserve land often small & poor land.Gov’t dependency increased.

Between 1874-1877,7 treaties signed.

Mcdonald’s ‘Sea to Sea’ dream needed land.

1876 Indian Act1876 Indian Act1876 = Indian Act

Natives to live on reserves.Children to attend residential schools.Propaganda Video vs. Reality Video

Missionaries sent to encourage treaties.

1876 = Indian Act Natives to live on reserves.Children to attend residential schools.Propaganda Video vs. Reality Video

Missionaries sent to encourage treaties.

2008 Harper gave Federal Apology

THE NORTHWEST REBELLION

THE NORTHWEST REBELLION

REASONS THE METIS WERE FRUSTRATED.Could not re-create the Red River Settlement.Troubles gaining land titles in Red River & the Northwest.Canadian gov’t had its own agenda –> Natives not part of treaty process.

Prairie land was to pay off RR and debts.Gov’t slashed “Indian Dept.”

budget.Promised farm/land aid never

happened.Blackmail => “Difficult Indians”

received no food relief.By 1884, many First Nations

people starving.

- Status under Indian Act unclear

REASONS THE METIS WERE FRUSTRATED.Could not re-create the Red River Settlement.Troubles gaining land titles in Red River & the Northwest.Canadian gov’t had its own agenda –> Natives not part of treaty process.

Prairie land was to pay off RR and debts.Gov’t slashed “Indian Dept.”

budget.Promised farm/land aid never

happened.Blackmail => “Difficult Indians”

received no food relief.By 1884, many First Nations

people starving.

- Status under Indian Act unclear

THE BLACKFOOT

NORTH WEST REBELLION -

RIEL RETURNS

NORTH WEST REBELLION -

RIEL RETURNSIn 1884, Riel returned from the US.The Metis convinced Riel to leave his teaching job and return to Canada to fight for his people.

Riel returned with peaceful intentions and created the Metis Bill of Rights.

By March of 1885, Riel knew the Metis could not achieve rights peacefully. “Justice commands us to take up arms”

LOUIS RIEL

GABRIEL DUMONT

BATTLES - DUCK LAKE - FISH CREEK - BATOCHE

ROLE OF THE FIRST NATIONS

ROLE OF THE FIRST NATIONS

CREE CHIEF POUNDMAKER

CREE CHIEF BIG BEAR

The Cree supported the Metis and fought with them.

The Blackfoot opted not to fight as Chief Crowfoot felt change was inevitable & he wanted the best deal possible for his people. “Pragmatist”.

CHIEF CROWFOOT

Who was being most loyal to their people?

RIEL’S ARRESTRIEL’S ARRESTBy May, Riel was arrested and Dumont had escaped to the US.

Riel’s lawyers recommended he plead insanity.

Riel refused as went against everything he had been fighting for.

Riel was hanged Nov. 16, 1885.

MARTYR????

Riel’s jury - What emotion do you see?

THE NATIONAL DREAM

CANADA - “A SEA TO SEA NATION”

THE NATIONAL DREAM

CANADA - “A SEA TO SEA NATION”

REASONS FOR A RAILWAY - MacDonald promised BC a transcontinental RR if we joined Canada.- Create a British North American nation that would rival the US.-To prevent the possibility of

assimilation by the US.

J. A. MacDonald

MacDonald looked for people willing to build and pay for such a huge expenditure. “Build it and we will make it worth your while later.”

THE NATIONAL DREAM (cont.)

THE NATIONAL DREAM (cont.)THE PACIFIC SCANDAL - MacDonaldPromised Sir Hugh Allen the RR contractIf he paid for his election campaign. MacDonald got caught and lost election.

Alexander Mackenzie (Liberal)-won election but faced world depression.-- hated RR idea but allowed Fleming

to survey.- alienated BC.

SIR HUGH ALLEN

A. MACKENZIE

MacDonald elected back with his NATIONAL POLICY.

- Tariffs- Western Settlement- The CPR

MORE POLITICAL SCANDALS

MORE POLITICAL SCANDALS

Chretien Sponsorship Scandal

DUI - HawaiiClarke – Renovation $ Clinton - Sex

Ford – Crack/DUI/Booze

THE CPR SYNDICATEGeorge Stephen - Bank of MontrealDonald Smith - HBCJames J. Hill - US Railways

THE CPR SYNDICATEGeorge Stephen - Bank of MontrealDonald Smith - HBCJames J. Hill - US Railways

THE DEAL - $25 million- 25 million acre land grant- monopoly on RR. For 20 yrs.- no land tax until sold.

RR TO BE COMPLETED IN 10 YRS.NOTE - The Syndicate changed the route to

assume total control & avoid land speculators.

STEPHEN

SMITH

HILL

THE SYNDICATE

Construction started slow and William Van Horne was hired to speed things up. NOTE - Van Horne was paid $20 000 / yr. when average.

wage was $400 /yr. Equivalent = $1 000 000 / yr. today.

VAN HORNE

CPR SYNDICATE CHANGES ROUTE

CPR SYNDICATE CHANGES ROUTE

BUILDING THE CPRBUILDING THE CPR Van Horne made deadlines (completed in 1885) but $ ran out.

Canadian gov’t gave $22.5 million to finish. Van Horne cut corners - ie. temp. bridges & ignored safety

grades. Terrible work & living conditions.

Bugs, poor diets, filthy bedding, leaks, danger, no plumbing. Over 35 000 ‘Navvies’

needed to finish the RR. 1885 Rebellion transported

troops & showed value of RR. => justified more $ to finish.

Van Horne made deadlines (completed in 1885) but $ ran out. Canadian gov’t gave $22.5 million to finish. Van Horne cut corners - ie. temp. bridges & ignored safety

grades. Terrible work & living conditions.

Bugs, poor diets, filthy bedding, leaks, danger, no plumbing. Over 35 000 ‘Navvies’

needed to finish the RR. 1885 Rebellion transported

troops & showed value of RR. => justified more $ to finish.

THE LAST SPIKE NOV. 7, 1885

A THOUGHT TO PONDER!A THOUGHT TO PONDER!The expansion of Canada came with a great deal of

controversy.Treatment of the First Nation people.Finances

Pacific ScandalCatering toEastern Business

1885 RebellionSettling the WestU.S. Manifest DestinyLand SpeculatorsCPR

Working conditionsVan HorneB.C.Rockies - Rogers Pass

The expansion of Canada came with a great deal of controversy.Treatment of the First Nation people.Finances

Pacific ScandalCatering toEastern Business

1885 RebellionSettling the WestU.S. Manifest DestinyLand SpeculatorsCPR

Working conditionsVan HorneB.C.Rockies - Rogers Pass