chapter 4 study notes! (gr.8)
Chapter 4.1
The Métis and the Northwest Resistance (1885)
Louis Riel’s Return
• Métis leaders (including Gabriel Dumont) invited Louis Riel back from exile in Montana to lead their cause.
• Riel was deeply religious and saw this as God’s plan.
• In December 1884, Riel and Métis leaders petitioned the government for land and political rights but received no response.
• Métis decided to take action by forming a provisional government.
2. The Northwest Resistance Begins
Battle of Duck Lake (March 26, 1885)
• First armed conflict between Métis and North-West Mounted Police.
• Métis, led by Gabriel Dumont, defeated government forces.
• Marked the official start of the Northwest Resistance.
3. Government Response: Deployment of Troops
• The federal government quickly sent 3,000 troops to crush the resistance.
• Unlike in 1870, the newly built railway allowed faster troop movement.
• Government forces were led by Major-General Frederick Middleton.
• The troops had advanced weapons, including the Gatling gun (early machine gun, fired 100 rounds per minute).
4. Battle of Batoche (May 9–12, 1885)
• Riel and Dumont defended Batoche, the Métis headquarters.
• Métis militia: less than 300 fighters.
• Government forces: over 800 troops.
• Dumont wanted guerrilla tactics, but Riel insisted on fighting conventionally.
• After a three-day standoff, Métis ran out of ammunition.
• May 15, 1885: Riel surrendered.
• Dumont and others escaped to the U.S.
• The Northwest Resistance ended.
5. Trial and Execution of Louis Riel
Riel’s Trial (July 1885)
• Held in Regina instead of Winnipeg to ensure a jury unsympathetic to the Métis.
• Jury: All English-speaking Protestants (only one spoke French).
• Riel refused to plead insanity, believing his cause was just.
Sentencing & Execution
• Riel was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.
• Many protests, especially in Quebec, where he was seen as a hero of French Canadians.
• Prime Minister John A. Macdonald refused to overturn the sentence.
• Riel was hanged on November 16, 1885.
• His execution remains controversial today.
6. Aftermath & Historical Impact
• Métis lost their political power and land rights.
• Government control over the West strengthened.
• Riel became a symbol of Métis resistance and a divisive figure in Canadian history.
• French-English tensions increased, as many French Canadians saw Riel as a martyr.
Key Terms to Remember
• Métis: People of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry.
• Northwest Resistance (1885): Armed conflict between the Métis and the Canadian government.
• Louis Riel: Métis leader who led the Red River Resistance (1869) and the Northwest Resistance (1885).
• Gabriel Dumont: Métis military leader.
• Battle of Duck Lake (March 1885): First battle of the Northwest Resistance.
• Battle of Batoche (May 1885): Last battle of the Northwest Resistance.
• Major-General Frederick Middleton: Commander of government troops.
• Gatling Gun: An early machine gun used by government forces.
• John A. Macdonald: Prime Minister of Canada, refused to pardon Riel.
Chapter 4.2
First Nations Resistance to the Federal Government
1. Negotiating Treaty Terms
• The federal government pressured First Nations to sign treaties that surrendered land rights in exchange for reserves and aid.
• Treaty 6 (August 23, 1876) was signed by Cree, Saulteaux, Assiniboine, and Dene in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
• Promises made to First Nations:
• Land for each family
• Annual cash payments
• Farming equipment
• Schools on reserves
• Hunting, trapping, and fishing rights
• Food rations during famine
• Medical care
• Chief Big Bear & Little Pine refused to sign initially, fearing the government would not keep its promises.
2. Planning a United Grand Reserve
• Some First Nations leaders sought to form a single large reserve to strengthen their position.
• Secret meetings were held among Chief Big Bear, Poundmaker, and Little Pine.
• Meetings took place during powwows to avoid government detection.
• A unified reserve would give First Nations more control over their land and future.
3. The Battle at Cut Knife Hill (May 2, 1885)
• Lieutenant-Colonel William Otter led 500 government troops to attack Chief Poundmaker’s camp.
• Cree and Assiniboine warriors, led by War Chief Fine Day, ambushed the government troops.
• Tactics Used:
• Used mirrors to signal attacks.
• Hid in trees and bushes to surround government troops.
• Outcome:
• Government troops were forced to retreat.
• Chief Poundmaker prevented his warriors from pursuing them, seeking peace instead of further conflict.
4. Chief Big Bear’s Refusal to Choose a Reserve
• Chief Big Bear refused to settle on a reserve, believing the government was not trustworthy.
• In 1883, he moved his people north toward Chief Poundmaker’s reserve to negotiate a united reserve.
• The government cut off famine relief because Big Bear had not yet chosen a reserve.
Impact:
• By refusing to settle, Big Bear’s people faced starvation.
• The government used famine as a tool to force compliance.
5. The Frog Lake Massacre (April 2, 1885)
• Frustration over famine and government inaction led to violence.
• Wandering Spirit, a Cree war leader, led an attack on the government outpost at Frog Lake.
• Several government officials were killed.
• Chief Big Bear was not involved, but the government blamed him for the uprising.
• Result: Increased government hostility and military action against First Nations.
6. Aftermath and Consequences
• First Nations resistance weakened as government control increased.
• Many leaders, including Big Bear and Poundmaker, were arrested.
• The Canadian government enforced stricter policies on reserves:
• Pass system: Restricted movement of First Nations people.
• Residential schools expanded to assimilate Indigenous children.
• Land loss increased as more settlers moved west.