Northwest Rebellion Research Paper

Throughout history, the Native people of North America and the Europeans have continually had arguments and disputes over land. To this day there are still issues trying to be resolved. Twenty years ago, the beginning of one of the most violent and intense land disputes in present day Canada occurred. This event is now referred to as the Oka Crisis, named after the town Oka in Quebec. This crisis caused a confrontation involving the Quebec provincial police, the Canadian armed forces and the Mohawk people.1 The stand that the Mohawk people took in the town of Oka became a major revelation for the aboriginal people spreading awareness of aboriginal rights across Canada.

One of the most contentious issues in Canada's history is that of the Metis. Some people feel this unique group of people does not deserve any sort of recognition, whereas others believe their unique history and culture is something to be recognized and cherished. The history of the Metis people is filled with struggle; not only struggles against other powers, but also a struggle for self-identification. Despite strong opposition, the Metis people of Canada have matured as a political force and have taken great strides towards being recognized as a unique people.

This was established first in Section 35 of the Constitution. Previously, the Métis were not recognized as Aboriginals and were instead called ‘half-breeds’, so they did not have the same rights given to them through treaties (such as the Indian Act and the Numbered Treaties). Even throughout the world, Canada is the only country to recognize a biracial group, and to give them rights as Aboriginal peoples. Without Section 35, it was easy for the Métis to be assimilated, and the transfer of constitutional powers from Britain to Canada threatened their legal identity and rights established in previous acts. Recognition from the Dominion of Canada preserved Métis culture, lest it fade away. Section 35 marked the biggest change of attitude towards Aboriginals, especially Métis, from the government. Furthermore, it affirmed their collective rights that were given through previous legislation such as the Manitoba Act. Finally, Section 35 helps to uphold Aboriginal rights in legal cases, so that the Métis have the power to advocate for their own rights and freedoms. Métis rights are enshrined and protected through Section

Changes were sweeping across the Northwest. Newcomers arrived, mainly Europeans and Canadians looking for more farmland. Unfortunately, the Metis were denied of their land and self-governing rights. They were forced to flee westward and struggled to survive. Continually pressing for title to

Louis Riel helped set up the Metis National Committee. Later then on November 2, 1869, they seized Upper Fort Garry, which allows them to gain dominance, and negotiate from a position of military strength. On November 16, the Provisional Government was set up. Their government’s goal was to maintain order in the colony during the transition period and to determine the future of union with Canada. The provisional government decided to make a Metis Bill of Rights. In the summer of 1869, the surveyors and William McDougall began dividing the Metis land, without letting them know. Also, Prime Minister Macdonald had sent McDougall instructions not to officially take over Rupert’s Land. To summarize, Mr. Riel was only protecting the Metis

Often times, when it came to the discussion on equality within Canada, the actions of Canada were compared to those of the United States, and often times, a comment is made stating that the United States could learn from Canada’s example when it came to racial harmony. However, this idea was often criticized as the racial problems within Canada were just as severe. The respect and the livelihood of the First Nation were violated for years even before the start of the twentieth century. However, the issues of the First Nations were hardly ever brought to light by other Canadians because these issues were often hidden deep within the reserves that these First Nations were forced into. From taking their land away to disregarding their cultures, the government rarely ever acknowledged the needs of the First Nations until they could no longer be ignored. The government continuously stressed assimilation, especially with the Indian Act , and expected the First Nations

Conflict between Canada and the First Nations has been going on since the Europeans first arrived. After their arrival the First Nations way of life was hindered severely; The Europeans brought many diseases that the Aboriginal people were unfamiliar with and had no resistance to, or cure for. “By the 16th century about 80% of Canada's Native population had died from the various diseases (Renneboog, 5).” The Europeans also came to Canada with the intentions of taking all of the land for themselves, disregarding the people who occupied the land before them. Over time the Europeans had manipulated the First Nations to their will and the Aboriginals were discriminated for their different complexion, culture, customs, and way of life. But

when the Manitoba act of 1870 made the new province Manitoba within the dominion of Canada, it was mostly a metis province. but the metis were given no land and very small political control. this book follows the metis in there battle for political power as its own people with our Canadian federation.

The British Parliament started the Quebec Act by bribing Quebec with land, rights , and religious freedom. After all of this the American Colonists were very upset because it was their land that he was giving to them, and The loss of the Ohio Valley which was the trade and trapping center for food and fur was the main issue the colonials could not get past. The Colonials decided that they have had enough and they went and started the American Revolution. The american revolution was the first anti colonial democratic revolution in history. The French during the Quebec act were very pleased and did not have an issue with any of

In the decades before the Civil War, there was a growing anti-immigration atmosphere in response to the population boom brought on by European immigrants. There was a fear that these new immigrants were either immoral, ‘not good enough’ due to race or religion, corrupt, or stealing jobs from the hard-working ‘native’ Americans. A new political party, members called ‘Know Nothings,” was formed, in an effort to regain control of the population. Some methods they wanted to use were requiring the ability to read and write in English in order to vote, banning certain types of people from holding political office, and making the process of becoming an American citizen more difficult. This party had some mild success in the Northeast, particularly in Massachusetts, but they fell out of favor and vanished shortly before the Civil War.

In addition, the Métis were gradually stripped of their cultural and language rights by the Canadian government. This, combined with the increasing marginalization of the Plains Indians tribes by white settlers, was a catalyst for disaster. In 1884, the Métis leader Louis Riel returned from exile in the USA to Canada, where he gathered together a group of Métis militants and formed a provisional government to press their case to the Canadian government. They provisional government passed a “Revolutionary bill of Rights”, which asserted the Métis right to possess their own land and preserve their cultural rights. To further pressure the Canadian government, the Métis took over the community of Duck Lake, which caused Canada to mobilize their troops and break down all negotiations. The Plains Cree, led by Chief Big Bear, angered by Canadian attempts to make them settle, clashed violently with government forces in the area, and joined the rebellion along with the Assiniboine. Prompted by the threat of rebellion, the Canadian government deployed 3000 troops down the half-completed CPR,

They did this because they wanted to avoid wars & for the land to be claimed as Canadian property. If they didn’t, it would’ve been easier for the USA to take over since the groups are smaller & easier to manipulate. The US also couldn’t take over because of an agreement signed stating that if a country already claimed the land, they can’t take over. The FN’s were also trying to avoid conflict with the Canadian Gov’t. But what they didn’t know is that by signing this treaty, they would have to give up a lot of things that they weren’t willing to give up. Because of the language barrier, the agreements on the treaty were not very clear. The FN’s were forced into reserves, forced to go to residential schools, & were forced to speak a completely different language in school. Almost every aspect of their life changed, they couldn’t even go outside the reserves without the permission of the Indian Agents. They were also forced to change their names. In First Nation culture, it is very common to have a very long name. The agents got tired of writing their long names and gave them a white

This was the reason why Louis Riel had to step forward and make the Metis National Committee. The purpose of this establishment was to prevent William from coming to their land and to organize a

The ideas for the War with Mexico were born from the ideals of Manifest destiny and in a time when America sought to show her military power. The ideas of both patriotism and nationalism following the war of 1812 spawned a desire within Americans not only to expand westward, but to show of the strength of the Nation’s military. In 1820 James Monroe issued his Monroe Doctrine which stated that United States would no longer be open for colonization or conquest, of course this didn't mean that America couldn't continue to practice imperialism and during the time of Manifest destiny that is exactly what they did. (Acuna, 231). "Their (Mexican's) natural enemies are the officers and the soldiers of the North American army which dominates them through

The Metis had their land temporarily and had it taken away because the government tricked them into losing their land by handing them a slip that confused them deeply. They deserved that right to land and after, they were poor and homeless. They stole from the HBC because the settlers stole their land and it was only fair. There was also low prices for wheat and the high prices for tractors and such and that made the Metis farmers angry so Riel helped them reach their goal. The Mountain police came in because they were stealing from the HBC. The Metis were hungry and had to attack using all the ammunition they could get because the Mountain Police started to attack when they could’ve just