The Northwest Rebellion (1885): Causes

Problems for Métis:  Many Métis were still upset about not getting their land title (after problems with scrip) – wanted gov’t. to give them land they felt they were owed  Métis also wanted to get assistance from gov’t. to teach them to farm prairies successfully  Gov’t. did not want to give Métis any land, since the prairies had already been surveyed for sale to European immigrant farmers coming to Canada  Land speculators selling this land were giving a portion of profits to gov’t.  Gov’t. hoped to get over $71 million from sales; enough to pay for rising CPR bills.  Therefore, the gov’t. ignored the Métis’ land claims.

Problems for Native Peoples:  After many tribes signed the land treaty deals with the gov’t. in the 1870’s, many Native Peoples were still stuck on reserve land without tools and training to farm (that the gov’t promised to give them).  As costs for CPR got higher, gov’t. began reducing budgets of Indian Department (in control of tools and funding for Native Peoples)  Once Native Peoples were starving (since they were not trained to farm their own lands), the gov’t began giving them food handouts.  However, the gov’t. made the Native Peoples promise that they would not complain to the gov’t. about the broken land treaty deals in order to even get the food. Questions for class discussion and reflection:

1. Which group, in your opinion, was being treated worse by the government? Why do you think this was so?

2. If each group were to rebel against the government, what do you think each should demand?

3. What could have been other ways these groups could have tried to find solutions to their problems? Would these have worked better than a rebellion?

Lead-Up to Rebellion

 Summer 1884: Riel returns from Montana to lend his legal and leadership talents to the plight of the Metis and Native Peoples against the gov’t.  Conservative businessmen in Prince Albert notify gov’t that Metis about to have another armed rebellion  NWMP in area reports that up to 1000+ Metis and Native Peoples are prepared to participate in armed rebellion  Macdonald and gov’t see situation in North West as opportunity to show Canadian public the value of the CPR (by transporting troops), now in dire need of funds from gov’t to be completed  Upon return, Riel creates Metis Bill of Rights