What was the North-West Rebellion?
The North-West Rebellion (or North-West Resistance) was a violent, five-month insurgency against the Canadian government, fought mainly by Métis and their First Nations allies in what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta.
What was the north-west resistance?
The North-West Resistance (or North-West Rebellion) was a violent, five-month insurgency against the Canadian government, fought mainly by Métis and their First Nations allies in what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta.
What is resistance or rebellion?
Resistance or Rebellion? The Red River and North-West Rebellions are known by many names, including the “Riel Rebellions,” the “Manitoba Rebellion” and the “Saskatchewan Rebellion.” They are also known as the “Red River Resistance,” the “1885 Resistance” and the “Northwest Resistance.”
What caused the rebellion of 1885 in Canada?
It was caused by rising fear and insecurity among the Métis and First Nations peoples as well as the white settlers of the rapidly changing West. A series of battles and other outbreaks of violence in 1885 left hundreds of people dead, but the rebels were eventually defeated by federal troops.
How did the North-West Rebellion end?
Ending the conflict Riel surrendered on May 15. Gabriel Dumont and other participants escaped across the border to the Montana Territory of the United States. The defeat of the Métis and Riel's capture led to the collapse of the Provisional Government.
How long did the North-West Rebellion last?
five-monthThe North-West Resistance (or North-West Rebellion) was a violent, five-month insurgency against the Canadian government, fought mainly by Métis and their First Nations allies in what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta.
What Battle ended the North-West Rebellion?
Battle of BatocheThe Battle of Batoche was the decisive battle of the North-West Rebellion, which pitted the Canadian authorities against a force of First Nations and Métis people.
Where did the North-West Rebellion end in 1885?
District of SaskatchewanWith Big Bear's surrender on July 2, 1885, armed resistance ceased in the District of Saskatchewan, thereby ending the last military conflict on Canadian soil. In the aftermath of the Cree uprisings, both Big Bear and Poundmaker were given prison sentences, and eight of their followers were hanged at Battleford.
What happened during the North-West Rebellion?
A series of battles left dozens of Métis and Cree warriors and Canadian soldiers wounded or dead. The Métis and their allies were eventually defeated by federal troops, though the Canadian government subsequently distributed land grants to the Métis.
What caused the North-West Rebellion of 1885?
The government responded in January 1885, saying it would not negotiate with Riel and would only consider the Métis' demands if these were presented at the proper time and place. Louis Schmidt and other Métis felt that this response by the federal government precipitated the outbreak of the 1885 Northwest Resistance.
How did the North-West Rebellion affect Canada?
Following the 1885 Northwest Resistance, the vast influx of non-Aboriginal settlers and the failure of the scrip system greatly disrupted the Métis' traditional lifestyles. Most Métis would lose out in the Prairie West's new social and economic landscape as newcomers flooded into the region.
Who was the leader of the North-West Rebellion?
Louis Riel returns Within this growing climate of frustration, Louis Riel returned to his prairie homeland in July 1884. The charismatic Métis leader had spent years in exile in the United States for heading the 1869-70 Red River Resistance.
Where was the North-West Rebellion?
SaskatchewanNorth-West Rebellion / Location
Why was Scott executed?
Trial and execution. While in jail, Scott became a nuisance as he caused trouble with the guards and made attempts at escaping. He was then brought in front of a court where they found him guilty of defying the authority of the Provisional Government, fighting with guards, and slandering the name of Louis Riel.
What were the key events in the North-West Rebellion?
timeline of major events of the northwest rebellion26th March 1885,Battle of duck Lake. ... 5th April 1885, frog lake massacre. ... 24th April 1885 Fish Creek. ... 1st May 1885, battle of cut knife. ... 9th May 1885, Battle of Batcohe. ... 3rd July 1885, Riel on Trial. ... 16th November 1885, Execution of Riel.
Why was Riel tried convicted and hanged for treason in 1885?
The Crown's case was that Riel had been the leader of the Rebellion, and thus had committed high treason. The Crown prosecutors downplayed the role of other individuals, such as Dumont, and called witnesses who emphasized Riel's role as a leader of the Métis.
When was the Northwest Rebellion?
In the spring of 2008, Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell proclaimed in Duck Lake, that "the 125th commemoration, in 2010, of the 1885 Northwest Rebellion is an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the prairie Métis and First Nations peoples' struggle with Government forces and how it has shaped Canada today."
What was the result of the end of the Rebellion?
The end of the rebellion led to the trial of Louis Riel, a trial that sparked national controversy between English and French Canada.
What was the name of the settlement in Saskatchewan during the Cree rebellion?
The South branch settlement was the centre of Louis Riel's Provisional Government of Saskatchewan during the Rebellion. To the west, where the Cree uprising led by Poundmaker and Big Bear occurred, was the Battleford sub-district with 3,603 people. The largest settlement and the capital of the district was Prince Albert with about 800 people ...
What was the name of the rebellion in 1885?
Batoche. Frenchman's Butte. Loon Lake. The North-West Rebellion of 1885 ( French: Rébellion du Nord-Ouest) was a rebellion by the Métis people under Louis Riel and an associated uprising by First Nations Cree and Assiniboine of the District of Saskatchewan against the Canadian government.
What was the last battle of the Rebellion?
The last armed engagement in the rebellion was the Battle of Loon Lake. On June 3, 1885, a small detachment of NWMP under the command of Major Sam Steele caught up to Big Bear's force which was moving northward after their victory at Frenchman's Butte. Big Bear's fighters were almost out of ammunition, and fled after a short exchange of fire and the release of their hostages.
Who was the Métis leader who fled the United States?
In 1884, the Métis (including the Anglo-Métis) asked Louis Riel to return from the United States, where he had fled after the Red River Rebellion, to appeal to the government on their behalf. The government gave a vague response. In March 1885, Riel, Gabriel Dumont, Honoré Jackson (a.k.a. Will Jackson), and others set up the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan, believing that they could influence the federal government in the same way as they had in 1869.
Where are the books of Remembrance for the North West Rebellion?
However, the militiamen who died during the 1885 North-West Rebellion are not commemorated in either the Books of Remembrance in the Memorial Chamber of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa or in Canada's Virtual War Memorial, both of which are administered by Veterans Affairs Canada.
What was the North West Rebellion?
The North-West Resistance (or North-West Rebellion) was a violent, five-month insurgency against the Canadian government, fought mainly by Métis and their First Nations allies in what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta. It was caused by rising fear and insecurity among the Métis and First Nations peoples as well as the white settlers of the rapidly changing West. A series of battles and other outbreaks of violence in 1885 left hundreds of people dead, but the resisters were eventually defeated by federal troops. The result was the permanent enforcement of Canadian law in the West, the subjugation of Plains Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and the conviction and hanging of Louis Riel.
Why was Louis Riel's execution postponed?
Louis Riel’s execution was postponed three times: twice to allow appeals to higher courts, then for a fuller medical examination of his alleged insanity. The appeals failed and the medical commission report was ambiguous. The federal government could have commuted the death sentence, but the decision to let the law take its course was purely political. Riel was hanged at Regina on 16 November 1885.
How many Métis died in the Battle of Batoche?
Eight of Middleton’s force died during the Battle of Batoche. The general later reported that 51 Métis and First Nations were killed, but that number has often been disputed. Louis Riel surrendered on 15 May; Gabriel Dumont fled to Montana.
Why did Louis Riel fail to convince the jury?
His lawyers failed in their attempt to convince the jury that Riel’s religious and political delusions made him unaware of the nature of his acts — largely because Riel was so eloquent in his address to the jury on 31 July. The law provided no alternative to the death penalty, and on 18 September Riel was sentenced to be hanged ( see Capital Punishment ).
What happened in the 1870s?
By the late 1870s, the Plains Indigenous nations of the West — the Cree, Siksika , Kainai, Piikani, and Saulteaux — were facing disaster. The great bison herds had disappeared, pushing people to near starvation. Much of their land had also been signed away in treaties, and they were now seeing towns, farm fences and railways appearing on the once expansive prairies. In 1880, Cree chief Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear), and Isapo-muxika (Crowfoot) , leading chief of the Siksika, founded a confederacy to try to solve their people’s grievances.
Where did the Métis live in 1885?
In anticipation of police intervention of some kind — but without knowing that federal troops were coming by rail from the East — the Métis occupied the community of Duck Lake, midway between Batoche and Fort Carlton. On the morning of 26 March 1885, a force of about 100 North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) and armed citizen volunteers, moved towards Duck Lake under the command of Superintendent Lief Crozier.
Where did the Métis meet the police?
A large group of Métis and First Nations met them on the Carlton Trail outside the village. Negotiations ended in confusion and the police and volunteers fired at their enemy hidden in a hollow north of the road, and in a cabin to the south. The battle ended shortly after, with the police and volunteers retreating to Fort Carlton. Nine volunteers and three police members were killed, with many more injured. Five Métis and one First Nations warrior died. Riel persuaded the his men not to pursue the retreating force, and the Métis returned to Batoche. The police evacuated Fort Carlton and retired to Prince Albert.
What was the North West Rebellion?
Before the North-West Rebellion, there was the Red River Rebellion that was also led by Riel between 1869 and 1870. After the Red River Rebellion, many of the Métis people left Manitoba to go and from settlements elsewhere in the Fort Carlton region. Some of the settlements they formed included Duck Lake, Fish Creek, Batoche, and others close to the South Saskatchewan River. After a survey was done in 1882, 36 families found that their land had been sold to the Prince Albert Colonization Company by the Canadian government.
Why did the Métis and the aboriginals fight?
The Métis and the aboriginals were in constant conflict over who had rights of hunting the bison. When the aboriginals started their own fight, it so happened that the Métis were also in conflict with the Canadian government. The main cause of the rebellion was that the people felt that the Canadian government had failed in protecting their rights, land, and survival. This belief and the dwindling bison population was what led to the Métis and aboriginals rising up.
Was the Métis movement peaceful?
Initially, the movement was a peaceful one. However, when Riel took over, he decided to make it a military movement with a strong religious background which led to the alienation of the religious parties. In his force, Riel had a few hundred Métis people with the Aboriginals making up a smaller number.
Where did the North West Mounted Police raid on March 25th?
On March 25th In the need for supplies, Dumont and his men raided the local store in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. The following day 100 North-West Mounted Police went to catch Dumont and his 300 men and take back all the supplies they stole. Dumont wanted to avoid violence but a fight broke out anyways, this was the first battle of the resistance. Men on both sides were killed but the North-West Mounted Police were forced to retreat.
Why did Louis Riel surrender?
On this day Louis Riel surrendered. He believed that his public trial would bring awareness to the struggles the Metis face because of the government. He was placed in Regina jail for eight weeks before his trial. As for Dumont and the other men, they escaped to the U.S. This is when the Northwest Resistance was officially over.
Who was the leader of the Metis?
Though they needed a leader to help them and Louis Riel was the person they looked to. Riel was in exile so Gabriel Dumont (a Metis leader from Saskatchewan) lead a group with three other Metis men to Montana to find and meet with Louis. During his exile Louis became very religious, so when proposed to the idea of this opportunity to lead he saw it as God's plan for him. Riel returned from his exile and now began to lead his people once again.
Who was the leader of the federal government in April after Duck Lake?
During the month of April after Duck Lake, many battles took place. At the end of the month Major-General Fredrick Middleton (the newly appointed leader of the federal government troop) took his troops to Riel's headquarters in Batoche. Though Dumont was quick enough to ambush Middleton's troops having them retreat for a few weeks.
Who punished Louis Riel?
In the end it was up to Prime Minister Macdonald on weather or not Louis would be punished. If he did punish him he would lose support from Quebec, but if he didn't punish Riel he would upset English Canada. Ultimately the Prime Minister and his cabinet chose to punish him and on this day Louis Riel was executed.
What was the Manitoba Act?
Following the Red River Rebellion, The Manitoba Act was created. The act was a promise of land to 7000 descendants of the Red River Metis from the federal government. Though many years passed by and the federal government failed to issue the land. This left the Metis frustrated and many left to Saskatchewan where pre-existing Metis communities were.
When did the Métis rebels open fire on the Coulee?
As Middleton’s scouts approached the coulee early on April 24, the rebels opened fire. Until mid-afternoon, Middleton’s soldiers tried unsuccessfully to drive Dumont’s men from the ravine. It took most of the day for Middleton to get the troops from the west bank across the river on a makeshift ferry, and they arrived too late to take part in the fighting. At the end of the day, both commanders decided to pull back. The Métis had held their ground, and Middleton’s advance was stopped.
What did the Cree raid?
On March 30, the Cree, joined by Assiniboin peoples, raided the empty buildings of Battleford, taking food and other items. Terrified settlers huddled in Fort Battleford for almost a month as the Cree and Assiniboin organized a war camp to the west.
Where did the Cree move to?
The rebel victory at Duck Lake encouraged a large contingent of Cree to move on Battleford, which lie west of Duck Lake and at the time was the capital (1876–83) of the Northwest Territories. Residents of the area flocked to the safety of nearby Fort Battleford. On March 30, the Cree, joined by Assiniboin peoples, raided the empty buildings of Battleford, taking food and other items. Terrified settlers huddled in Fort Battleford for almost a month as the Cree and Assiniboin organized a war camp to the west.
How many Canadian troops were sent to the Battle of Duck Lake?
Railroad manager William Van Horne quickly arranged for Canadian troops to be transported across the unfinished gaps in the new railway, enabling them to reach Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, by April 10th. In less than a month, almost 3,000 troops had been transported west; most were Ontario -based militia units, though the force also included two Québec battalions and one from Nova Scotia. Another 1,700 troops came from the west. The combined force was under the command of General Frederick Middleton.
Where did Otter and Assiniboin fight?
On May 1, Otter moved west from Battleford with 300 men. Early the next day, they confronted the Cree and Assiniboin force just west of Cut Knife Creek, about 25 miles (40 km) from Battleford. The aboriginal force had enormous advantages of terrain, virtually surrounding Otter’s troops on an inclined, triangular plain. Cree war chief Fine Day deployed his soldiers successfully in wooded ravines. After about six hours of fighting, Otter retreated. Cree chief Poundmaker persuaded the aboriginal warriors not to pursue the government troops.
How many people were arrested in the Rebellion?
Nearly one hundred people were arrested after the rebellion. About 70 were convicted on charges from treason to theft. Big Bear and Poundmaker each received a three-year sentence, but both were released before the end of their sentences. Both men died within a year of their release.
What happened to Big Bear in 1885?
Toronto Lithographing Co. 1885. Big Bear had taken no personal part in any rebellious activities; young warriors in Big Bear's band had been responsible for the Frog Lake "Massacre" and the looting of Battleford. Big Bear was finally cornered with a few remaining followers, thus effectively ending the Rebellion.
What did the government claim about Riel?
The government claimed that he "did maliciously and traitorously attempt and endeavor by force and arms to subvert and destroy the constitution and government of this realm .". On July 6, 1885, Riel was charged with high treason.
Where was Louis Riel captured?
Louis Riel was captured on the road three miles north of Batoche. He was on foot with several other men. He had wanted to give himself up to General Middleton, but, was so afraid to be seen, fearing that soldiers would simply kill him outright, that he begged his captors to keep his identity secret. They did.
Was Riel mentally unstable?
The witnesses' insisted that Riel had been mentally unstable before and during the rebellion . Towards the end of the trial, Riel was allowed to speak. After a moment of prayer, he reviewed the troubles in the North-West, beginning with the sufferings his people had endured and the government's inactivity.
Overview
Demographics
The District of Saskatchewan, part of the Northwest Territories in 1885, was divided into three sub-districts and had a population of 10,595. To the east, the Carrot River sub-district with 1,770 people remained quiet. The Prince Albert sub-district located in the centre of the district had a population of 5,373 which included the Southbranch settlements with about 1,300. The South branch settl…
Nomenclature
The conflict is referred to by several names, including the North-West Rebellion, the North-West Resistance, the 1885 Resistance, the Northwest Uprising, the Saskatchewan Rebellion, and the Second Riel Rebellion. The conflict, in addition to the Red River Rebellion, was collectively referred to as the Riel Rebellions.
Although the terms rebellion and resistance can be used synonymously, its use in relation to thi…
Background
After the Red River Resistance of 1869–1870, many of the Métis moved from Manitoba to the Fort Carlton region of the North-West Territories, where they founded the Southbranch settlements of Fish Creek, Batoche, St. Laurent, St. Louis, and Duck Lake on or near the South Saskatchewan River. In 1882, surveyors began dividing the land of the newly formed District of Saskatchewan in the squ…
Course of war
Riel had been invited in to lead the movement but he turned it into a military action with a heavily religious tone, thereby alienating the Catholic clergy, the whites, nearly all of the First Nations, and most of the Métis. He had a force of a couple hundred Métis and a smaller number of First Nations at Batoche in May 1885, confronting 900 government troops.
Aftermath
The trial of Louis Riel occurred shortly after the resistance, where he was found guilty of high treason, and hanged. His trial sparked a national controversy between English and French Canada.
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) played a key role in the government's response to the conflict, as it was able to transport federal troops to the area q…
Long-term consequences
The Saskatchewan Métis requested land grants; they were all provided by the government by the end of 1887, and the government resurveyed the Métis river lots in accordance with their wishes. The Métis did not understand the long term value of their new land, however, and sold much of it to speculators who later resold it to farmers. The French language and Catholic religion faced increasing marginalisation in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as exemplified by the emergin…
Memory
In the spring of 2008, Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell proclaimed in Duck Lake, that "the 125th commemoration, in 2010, of the 1885 Northwest Rebellion is an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the prairie Métis and First Nations peoples' struggle with Government forces and how it has shaped Canada today."
Disaffected Peoples
Louis Riel Returns
- In the summer of 1884, the Métis of Saskatchewan brought Louis Riel, the Red River Resistance leader, back to Canada from exile in the United States. Riel urged all dissatisfied people in the North-West to unite and press their case on Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald’s Conservative government, which had failed to address their grievances. In the fall of 1884, Riel prepared a peti…
Battle at Duck Lake
- In anticipation of police intervention of some kind — but without knowing that federal troops were coming by rail from the East — the Métis occupied the community of Duck Lake, midway between Batoche and Fort Carlton. On the morning of 26 March 1885, a force of about 100 North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) and armed citizen volunteers, moved towards Duck Lake under the co…
Canada Mobilizes Troops
- In Ottawa, the government’s reaction was swift and clear. There were only a few hundred full-time soldiers in Canada, but militia mobilization began on 25 March 1885, the day before the Battle of Duck Lake. CPR manager William Van Horne quickly arranged for Canadian troops to be transported across the unfinished gaps in the new railway, enabling them to reach Qu’Appelle, S…
Resistance Increases
- The victory at Duck Lake encouraged a large contingent of Cree to move on Battleford from reserves to the west. Residents of the area flocked to the safety of Fort Battleford. On 30 March, Assiniboinessouth of Battleford killed two settlers and joined the Cree forces. Terrified settlers huddled in Fort Battleford for almost a month as the Cree and Assiniboine organized a huge war …
Battle of Fish Creek
- General Middleton’s original plan was simple. He wanted to march all his troops north from the railhead at Qu’Appelle to Batoche. But the killings at Frog Lake and the “siege” of Battleford forced him to send a large group under Lieutenant-Colonel William Otter north from a second railhead at Swift Current to relieve Battleford. Pressure from Northwest Territories officials in present-day A…
Battle of Batoche
- Otter’s setback prompted General Middleton to wait two weeks for reinforcements before resuming his march toward Batoche. On the morning of 9 May, his forces attacked the carefully constructed defences at the southern end of the Batoche settlement. The steamer Northcote, transformed into a gunboat, attempted to attack the village from the river, but the Métis lowered …
Final Shots
- During the Battle of Batoche, General Strange was resting his Alberta Field Force at Edmonton after a hard march from Calgary. The column left Edmonton on 14 May and on 28 May they caught up to the Frog Lake Cree, dug in at the top of a steep hill near a prominent landmark known as Frenchman’s Butte, 18 km northwest of Fort Pitt (see Battle of Frenchman’s Butte). Direct adv…
Arrest and Prosecution
- The North-West Resistance had not been a concerted effort by all groups in the North-West. Even most Métis communities stayed out of the fighting. The people of the South Branch communities of the Saskatchewan River valley, centered at Batoche, had been the principal combatants. The Plains Cree of Big Bear’s band had participated, but the neighbouring Woods Cree had not. Som…
Hanging of Louis Riel
- Louis Riel’sexecution was postponed three times: twice to allow appeals to higher courts, then for a fuller medical examination of his alleged insanity. The appeals failed and the medical commission report was ambiguous. The federal government could have commuted the death sentence, but the decision to let the law take its course was purely political. Riel was hanged at …