Bison, Treaties, Metis, Immigration, National Railway and Rebellion

THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES 1870 - 1896

US Expansion

W. H. Seward US Secretary of State

• Seward was in charge of purchasing Alaska for the United States in 1867

• His comment with regards to Canadian Confederacy achieved the day before: “It is all very well,” he said. “You are building excellent states to be hereafter admitted to the American Union.”

• Canadian politicians felt strong pressure to increase Canada’s territory and population

Red River Resistance• Although Louis Riel was considered a pain in the side of Canadian politicians when he delayed the ‘easy’ sale of Ruperts Land to Canada, he could easily have changed the course of history by joining forces with Americans in recommending that the Metis join the US instead of Canada.

• The transfer of Rupert’s Land finally happened on July 15, 1870, the same day as Manitoba joined Canada.

• Manitoba – from the word ‘manitou’ meaning Great Spirit

Scrip – for Land or Cash

Manitoba Act, 1870• Manitoba joins as Canada’s 5th province

• Despite the protection of the Manitoba Act, many Metis continue to suffer because of the prevailing intolerance against ‘half breeds’

• Metis are offered ‘Scrip’ which promises them cash or land. But land speculators are able to buy up Metis scrip, by many underhanded means. An early example of ‘the rich get richer’

• Many Metis leave the Red River Valley, settling further west into present day Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The Plains Buffalo

Buffalo Hunt• All parts of the buffalo were used:• Rawhide: containers, shields, buckets, moccasins, ropes, saddles, blankets, snowshoes• Buckskin: cradles, moccasins, robes, shirts, leggings, dresses, bags, tipis• Hair: headdresses, ornaments, moccasins, stuffing, amulets• Skull: rituals• Horns: arrows, spoons, ladles• Bones: tools, pipes, knives, arrowheads, shovels, splints, clubs•Meat: pemmican, jerky, soup• Fat: soap, cooking, medicines

Treaties for Land• http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/treaties-from-1760-1923-two-sides-to-the-story-1.1081839

• Our text book has told us only a small paragraph in the story of the treaties signed between several First Nations groups and the Canadian government.

• First Nations should not be viewed as the helpless victims of an unfair deal. The various chiefs were tough negotiators, willing to stand up to the Canadian government for the best deal they could get for their people. First Nations had a powerful bargaining tool – the land needed by the Canadian government.