CANADA HISTORY

Manitoba and Riel

The events surrounding the Red River Rebellion of 1869-1870 and the entry of Manitoba into Confederation represent a defining moment in the early history of Canada. This period not only marked the first significant test of the country's national unity, but also served as the catalyst for the long struggle between the Indigenous Métis population, European settlers, and the newly established Canadian government over land rights, governance, and cultural autonomy. These events would have far-reaching consequences, shaping Canada's westward expansion, Indigenous relations, and federal-provincial dynamics.

The Precarious Status of the Red River Settlement

As Canada and the Maritime provinces moved towards Confederation in 1867, the Red River Settlement in what is now Manitoba was largely neglected in the discussions that shaped the British North America (BNA) Act. Situated within Rupert's Land, which was controlled by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), the Red River region was home to a significant population of Métis—people of mixed Indigenous and European descent who lived primarily through fur trading and buffalo hunting. For decades, the Métis had established their own socio-political and economic systems, which were intricately linked to the land.

As Canada grew in size and ambition following Confederation, the Hudson’s Bay Company sought to sell its vast lands to the British Crown, which in turn was prepared to transfer them to the new Canadian government. However, this transfer occurred without consulting the inhabitants of the Red River area, including the Métis, Indigenous peoples, and other settlers. For the Métis, this oversight was not only a political insult but also a direct threat to their land rights and way of life. Their land, divided in traditional strip-lot riverfront parcels, was suddenly under Canadian jurisdiction without any assurances or recognition of their unique land-holding patterns.

Rising Tensions and the Arrival of Canadian Surveyors

The Métis, led by figures such as Louis Riel, had long been apprehensive about the growing influx of settlers, primarily from Ontario, who brought with them new legal and cultural norms. The arrival of Canadian surveyors in the Red River region in July 1869 further inflamed these tensions. The surveyors, sent by the Canadian government ahead of the formal transfer of Rupert’s Land, began dividing the land according to British colonial grids, with no regard for the Métis' system of land tenure. This act was a direct threat to Métis property, livelihoods, and autonomy.

One of the most significant confrontations occurred on October 11, 1869, when surveyors laid their chains across the land of André Nault, a cousin of Louis Riel. Nault protested, but his concerns were ignored. Riel himself intervened and famously stepped on the surveyor’s chain, declaring that they would go no further without respecting Métis land rights. This act of defiance was a symbolic moment that underscored the growing conflict between the Métis and the Canadian government.

Formation of the Métis Provisional Government

In response to these provocations, Riel and his followers formed the Comité National des Métis on October 16, 1869, establishing themselves as the legitimate representatives of the Red River settlers. The Comité articulated a series of demands that included recognition of Métis land titles, the provision of additional land for their children, tax-exempt status, and the guarantee of rights for the Roman Catholic Church, which was central to Métis life. They also demanded a locally elected council to govern the settlement.

At this time, Canada was still months away from formally taking control of Rupert's Land, and the appointed Lieutenant Governor, William McDougall, had yet to assume authority. However, tensions were rising rapidly. McDougall attempted to enter the Red River area in November 1869, but he was met by Métis forces who turned him back, signaling that Canadian authority would not be recognized until the Métis' demands were addressed. Riel and the Métis then took control of Upper Fort Garry on November 2, seizing the strategic HBC post and effectively asserting control over the region.

The Provisional Government and the Arrest of Thomas Scott

In December 1869, the Canadian government dispatched Donald Smith, a representative of Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, to negotiate with Riel and the Métis. Smith’s main objective was to prevent the Red River Settlement from seceding to the United States, as many settlers—both Métis and Anglo—had begun considering annexation to the U.S. due to their frustration with Canadian and British colonial indifference.

The negotiations led to the creation of a provisional government led by Riel, which aimed to represent the interests of both the Métis and the English-speaking settlers. However, there were factions in the settlement, particularly a group of militant Canadians led by Dr. John Schultz and Thomas Scott, who refused to recognize Riel’s authority. Scott, in particular, became a focal point of opposition. After an armed confrontation, Scott was arrested by the Métis forces.

Scott’s imprisonment—and his subsequent execution by firing squad on March 4, 1870—remains one of the most controversial episodes in Canadian history. Riel ordered the execution after Scott repeatedly threatened the Métis, insulted their leaders, and displayed open contempt for their cause. Riel’s decision to execute Scott was motivated by the desire to assert authority and deter further challenges to the provisional government. However, the execution polarized public opinion in Canada. In Ontario, Scott became a martyr for the anti-Riel cause, while in Quebec, Riel was seen as a defender of French Catholic rights.

The Manitoba Act and the Entry into Confederation

The standoff between Riel’s provisional government and the Canadian authorities led to negotiations in Ottawa. Recognizing the legitimacy of many of the Métis' demands, the Canadian government passed the Manitoba Act in May 1870, which created the province of Manitoba and provided for the protection of Métis land rights, the establishment of bilingualism in the province, and guarantees of religious freedoms. Manitoba entered Confederation as Canada’s fifth province on July 15, 1870.

While the Manitoba Act addressed some of the immediate concerns of the Métis, tensions remained high. The Canadian military, under Garnet Wolseley, was sent to the Red River in 1870 ostensibly to maintain order, but the arrival of the troops exacerbated tensions. Riel fled into exile in the United States, fearing retribution for the execution of Scott. Although amnesty was promised to Riel and his followers, it was never fully granted, and Riel remained a controversial figure, eventually returning to lead the Northwest Rebellion in 1885.

The Legacy of the Red River Rebellion

The events surrounding the Red River Rebellion were pivotal in shaping the early years of Canadian Confederation. The conflict underscored the cultural, linguistic, and political divisions that existed between the various peoples of Canada, particularly between French Catholics and English Protestants, and between Indigenous peoples and the expanding settler population. The rebellion also raised important questions about land rights and the treatment of Indigenous peoples, issues that would continue to define Canadian politics for decades.

The Métis people had, for a brief moment, asserted themselves as equals in the governance of the Canadian West. However, despite the guarantees of the Manitoba Act, many of their land claims were ignored or mishandled, leading to widespread dispossession in the following decades. This sense of betrayal fueled Métis discontent and contributed to the tensions that erupted again during the Northwest Rebellion.

For the Canadian government, the Red River Rebellion demonstrated the complexities of westward expansion and the need to integrate diverse populations into the new Confederation. It also highlighted the importance of negotiation and compromise in addressing regional grievances, though the balance between federal and provincial (and, by extension, local) authority would remain a contentious issue.

Ultimately, the Red River Rebellion and the formation of Manitoba were instrumental in shaping Canada's national identity and territorial integrity. It brought the Métis into the national consciousness and solidified the country's control over the vast Northwest Territories, ensuring that Canada would become a transcontinental nation. The rebellion also set a precedent for how Canada would deal with Indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups—issues that continue to resonate in modern Canadian society.