Métis History

& Culture
Rupert's Land and the Hudson’s
Bay Company 1700’s
Hudson’s bay Company Employed Orkney
Men, French and English to Establish the
Fur Trade
The HBC had a affinity for Orkney Men
due to their hardiness. 70% of the
Hudson’s bay employees were of Orkney
Origin
Employees of the HBC took Aboriginal
Wives called “Country Wives” creating a
New Nation
 The Red River Colony
By 1811, a Scottish nobleman, Thomas
Douglas Fifth Earl of Selkirk, gained a
controlling interest in the HBC.
The London Committee
of the HBC agreed to
grant Lord Selkirk a
296,960
square kilometre tract of
land in the vicinity of the
Red and Assiniboine
Rivers for an
agricultural settlement.
The land ceded to
Selkirk for
a nominal sum of ten
shillings was to be
henceforth known as
"Assiniboia.
The Red River Colony
In the wake of
confederation (and
without consultation with
the colony's inhabitants
or guarantees of their
rights) arrangements
were made to transfer
the colony and Rupert’
Land to Canada, the
stage was set for the
Red River Rebellion
Battle of Seven Oaks
Part of North West Company-Hudson's Bay
Company Rivalry
The Battle of Seven Oaks (known to the Métis
as la Victoire de la Grenouillière, or the Victory of
Frog Plain) took place on June 19, 1816 during
the long dispute between the Hudson's Bay
Company and the North West Company,
rival fur-trading companies in western Canada.

Blue North West

Company flag

Red Hudson’s Bay

Company Flag
 Sir John A. MacDonald
National Policy and the Great Canadian Railroad
William McDougall set in motion a process whereby
Canada formally requested that Rupert’s land be
awarded to Canada as a part of the new nation. The
United States was anxious to purchase the land which
had belonged to the Hudson’s Bay Company since 1670
and offered the British Government $10,000,000 for it.
The Canadian Government eventually did buy it for
£300,000 and Sir John A. MacDonald found himself and
his country with an additional 1/3 of the North American
continent added to Canada. MacDonald appointed
William McDougal as the Lieutenant Governor of the
huge territory and he set out for the Red River settlement
to establish his authority.
The Métis in the settlement did not accept the
transaction of their land by the British government to
Canada and decided to set up their own government.
This action was lead by the fiery Métis leader Louis Riel.
This situation developed into one of the most
challenging of MacDonald’s political career. He refused
to deal with Riel and instead of recruiting him into the
great Canadian experiment, MacDonald dealt with him as
a rebel and thus the Red River Rebellion of 1869-1870
began.
 The Provisional Government of
December 8 1869

The Red River Settlement land-surveying episode set in motion the irrevocable
rise in tensions between the Métis and the federal authorities. When surveyors from
Canada ignored the lot lines of the Métis farms, Riel took action.
A band of Métis occupied Upper Fort Garry and Riel formed a provisional government to
negotiate the colony's entry into Canada. Riel assumed the leadership
of the movement Riel established a provisional government on December 8, 1869.
The provisional government's goal was to manage the settlers' lives and protect their
material goods and establish a “List of Rights”
The execution of
Thomas Scott Riel had the support of both the Métis and the
mixed bloods but English speaking
Canadians who had moved into the colony
opposed the provisional government.
Riel ordered the execution by a firing squad of
an Orangeman from Ontario, Thomas Scott, for
his constant opposition to Riel's authority.

Scott, a native of Ireland, had been captured

during an attempt to rescue the local politician,
J.C. Schultz, another Orangeman. The murder
of Scott placed Sir John A. Macdonald [himself
an Orangeman] between the voters of Ontario
and Quebec, and turned the event at Red River
into a French-English, Catholic-Protestant
confrontation. Orangemen in Ontario demanded
that Macdonald take action and he did so. His
government passed the Manitoba Act in June,
1870.

March 4, 1870
Royal Proclamation of 1869
December 06, 1869
The Queen has charged me as her
representative, to inform you that
certain misguided persons in Her
settlements on the Red River, have
banded themselves together to oppose
by force the entry into Her North-
Western Territories of the officer
selected to administer, in Her name,
the Government,….
By Her Majesty’s authority I do
therefore assure you, that on the
union with Canada all your civil
and religious rights and privileges
will be respected, your properties
secured to you, and that your
Country will be governed, as in the
past, under British Laws, and in
the spirit of British justice.
Wolseley’s Proclamation to the Red River
Inhabitants
The Red River Rebellion 1885

(L-R): Ignace Poitras, Pierre Parenteau, Baptiste

Parenteau, Pierre Gariepy, Ignace Poitras Jr.,
Albert Monkman, Pierre Vandal, Baptiste Vandal,
Joseph Arcand, Maxime Dubois, James Short,
Pierre Henry, Baptiste Tourond, Emmanuel
Champagne, Kit-a-wa-how (Alex Cagen, ex-chief
of the Muskeg Lake Indians)
 The Indian Act
The Indian Act was implemented under John A.
MacDonald which essentially made Indians
wards of the state.

While the act has experienced many revisions, the

Indian act is still in force today. Earlier
documents included the Métis.
 Indian Act 1876
(e) Provided also that no half-breed in Manitoba who has shared in the distribution
of half-breed lands shall be accounted an Indian; and that no half-breed of a family
(except the widow of an Indian, or a half-breed who has already been admitted into a treaty),
shall, unless under very special circumstances, to be determined by the Superintendent-
General
or his agent, be accounted an Indian, or entitled to be admitted into any Indian treaty.
Indian Act Assented to 12th April, 1876

Halfbreed scrip & Treaty commissions

 Indian Act 1879
Paragraph (e) of sub-section three, of section three of "This
Indian Act 1876," is hereby amended by adding at the end
thereof the words "And any half-breed who may have been
admitted into a treaty shall be allowed to withdraw there
from on refunding all annuity money received by him or her
under the said treaty, or suffering a corresponding reduction
in the quantity of any land, or scrip, which such half-breed
as such be entitled to receive from the Government."
[Assented to 15th, May, 1879.]
 Indian Act 1888
A13. No half-breed in Manitoba who has shared in the distribution of half-breed lands shall be
accounted an Indian; and no half-breed head of a family, except the widow of an Indian or a
half-breed who has already been admitted into a treaty shall, unless under very special
circumstances, which shall be determined by the Superintendent General or his agent, be
accounted an Indian or entitled to be admitted into any Indian treaty; and any half-breed
who has been admitted into a treaty shall, on obtaining the consent in writing of the Indian
Commissioner or in his absence the Assistant Indian Commissioner, be allowed to
withdraw there from on signifying in writing his desire so to do. Being which signification
in writing shall be signed by him in the presence of two witnesses, who shall certify the
same on oath before some person authorized by law to administer the same; and such
withdrawal shall include the minor unmarried children of such half-breed.

Indian Act Assented to 22nd May, 1888

 The Reserve System and Treaty
December 27th 1892
Permission to Leave the
Reserve was granted by
the Indian Agent
Many did not wish to enter
into treaty and took Half-
breed scrip due to this
oppressive treatment.
Trade was also controlled
by the Indian Agent and
the Indian Act
Those classified as Indians
also didn’t have the right to
vote until 1960

In addition, Many Half-breeds did not enter treaty due to the realization that they
would starve if they were bound to the Reserve and took scrip.
 Alexander Morris 1880
Are you a Half-breed or an Indian?

“During the Payment of Several Bands, it was found that in some and most
notably in the Red River Indian settlement and Broken head River Band, a
number of those residing among the Indians, and calling themselves Indians,
are in reality half-breeds, and entitled to share in the land grant under the
provisions of the Manitoba Act.
Alexander Morris 1880
 Confusion of
Identity
Treaty & Scrip

• I was most particular, therefore, in causing it to be explained, generally and to

Individuals that any person now electing to be classed with Indians, and receiving
the Indian pay and gratuity, would, I believed, thereby forfeit his or her right to
another grant as a Half-breed, the matter as it affect himself and his children, was
explained to him, and the choice given to Characterize himself. A Very few only
decided upon taking their grants as half-breeds. The explanation of this apparent
sacrifice is found in the fact that the mass of these persons have lived all their
lives on the Indian reserves (so called) and would rather receive such benefits as
may accrue to them under the Indian treaty, than wait the realization of any value
in their half-breed grant.”
• Alexander Morris Journals 1880
 Right to Characterize themselves
List of Names from the Peguis
Indian Settlement
•Badger
•Beardy
•Thomas
•Flett
•Cameron
•Whitford
•Stranger
•Walker
•McCorrister
•Bear
•Cook
•Smith
The Saulteaux Village
Red River
Band List 1840

Desjarlais,
Daniel
Chartrand,
Ducharme,
Gladu,
Lavallee,
Mcleod,
Chabolliez
Allarie
 St . Peter’s Indian Band
•Flett
•Fiddler
•Favelle
•Halcro
•Sutherland
•Spence
•Sinclair
•Thomas
•Tait
•Cameron
•Desjarlais
•Bird
 Métis Meeting with Scrip
Commission in Dunvegan
1899

The First Scrip Commission was in 1885

Ten other scrip commissions followed:

1886 (continuation of 1885 work); 1887 (completion of 1885 work);
1889 (claims within the territory of the Treaty Six adhesion);
1899 (claims within the territory of Treaty Eight);
1900 (claims of Métis born in the North West Territories between 15 July 1870 and 31 December 1885);
1901 (claims of Métis resident in the portion of Manitoba outside its original boundaries,
and the remaining claims in the Northwest);
1906-07 (claims within the territory of Treaty Ten);
1908-10 (claims within the territory of the Treaty Five adhesion) and
1921 (claims within the territory of Treaty No. 11)
 Treaty and Scrip
Exploitation of Métis Lands in Canada
These grants were conveyed to Half-
breed family heads and their children by
In 1978 Emile Pelletier’s a special warrant called "scrip.“
Investigations found allotments of Notes in the form of money scrip (valued at $160 or
240 acres made under section 31. $240) or land scrip, valued at 160 acres or 240 acres (65
hectares or 97 hectares) were offered to the Métis in
Pelletier then categorized the sale exchange for their Aboriginal rights. Along with the
of each grant as legal, illegal, treaties that awarded First Nations territories to Canada,
the scrip system enabled the federal government to alot
ambiguous or speculative. In western lands to new settlers, unencumbered by prior
doing so, he found that 529 land rights of use.

grants covering 126,960 acres

were sold illegally while 580 sales
involving 139,200 acres were
ambiguous cases. 590 land grants
covering 141,600 acres consigned
to Half-breed children were
obtained by land speculators for
resale who earned profits for
themselves of 100 percent to
2000 percent
 Scrip Speculators
Scrip speculators, many of
whom were connected to
prominent western banks,
followed the commissions
and bought up scrip at a
fraction of its value (about
35 cents on the dollar), only
to sell it later to land
speculators and
homesteaders at a marked
up price.
 The Scrip System & Westward
Migration

Historians have recently found evidence to suggest that the federal

government knew the scrip system was flawed but chose to ignore it. It
may be that the government was using scrip as a form of indirect
federal subsidy to assist western development at the expense of Métis
land. The result was tragic for the Métis. It left them homeless in their
own land. Growing Anti – Métis sentiment started the Migration of Métis
Westward into Montana, Saskatchewan, and parts of Ontario
Pre-Rebellion and Post Rebellion
1870 And 1885

Métis communities
dispersed into
Montana, South &
North Dakota,
Saskatchewan,
Northern parts of
Manitoba, Alberta &
BC
 Métis in Montana
The Canadian and US
The 10th Cavalry Government paid 5000.00 and
issued a Deportation order for all
“Métis” and Indians that entered
into Montana due to the
Rebellion.
There was wide spread fear that
the “Métis” would be subject to
punishment from their
participation in the Northwest
Rebellion as did the Rebellion
Leader Louis Riel

The Buffalo Soldiers escorted the Canadian Indians and “Metis”

to the border where they were put on trains and shipped to
Lethbridge. Many did not make the Journey
 Montana Métis Locations

The Larger the Circles indicates greater Métis Population in Montana

Towns such as Dupuyer, Lewistown, Havre, Sweetgrass, and Chouteau
had the largest populations.
 Public Outcry and Government
Intervention in Montana & Canada
• The Montanian News May 30th 1890 A general
cry is being sent up against the Cree Indians
from across the boundary line, who are
roaming around through Choteau county
without any visible means of support. A small
outfit passed through town [Choteau]
yesterday presenting a disgusting sight. Their
presence this side of the line should not be
tolerated by the government as it has a bad
effect on the Indians who belong on the
reservation, causing the old longing to roam,
to return and making them dissatisfied with
the restraint put upon them, while the stranger
is allowed to do as he pleases. Oust the Crees.

• The Montanian News April 17 1896 Crees to be

deported. Canadian Authorities agree to look
after their Indians. Helena, Mont. April 11 1895.
Finally Canada has taken official action in
regard to Cree Indian matters and the present
outlook is that all Crees in the United States
will be deported within the next four weeks. Little Bears Band and
Métis Escorted across the 49th Parallel
 Métis who were
under deportation
orders by the US
Government
escaped back
across the
Montana/Canada
border and hid in
the protection of
Ear Mountain
Work is currently
being done to
rename it “Métis
Ridge”
Métis Culture
 The Métis Buffalo Hunt
The Métis Nation became a dominant force on the
plains during the late 1700s and way into the
1800s. They were an highly organized body of
people. They enacted laws, rules and
regulations around the buffalo hunt which later
became the "Laws of the Prairie" and the
beginning of law enforcement in the area and
subsequently adopted by the North West
Mounted Police. The initiation of these laws
brought the Métis Nation the solidifying process
of self-government.

The hunt involved organizing hundreds of men,

women, children, Red River carts and horses
for the westward journeys extending hundreds
of miles to where the buffalo grazed. On the
return trip, tons of processed buffalo meat and
hides had to be transported. The buffalo hunts
provided the Métis with an impressive
organizational structure and by 1820 was a
permanent feature of life for all individuals on or
near the Red River and other Métis
communities. There were usually two organized
hunts each year: one in the spring and one in
the autumn. The buffalo hunts of this time were
carried out through almost militaristic precision
and the combined force of a Métis hunt was
larger than an other force of its time.

Paul Kane's oil painting "Half-Breeds

Running Buffalo
 Way of Life of the Métis
Many of the foodstuffs women
gathered were dried, pounded, or
otherwise preserved and stored for
the scarce times of winter. Women
fished, snared small game, caught
prairie chickens and migratory
birds, and gathered their eggs. A
high degree of mobility was
essential for people effectively to
draw on the varied resources of the
Plains.
The plains people were not solely
hunters of buffalo.
To rely on one staple resource alone
was risky in the Plains environment,
as there were periodic shortages of
buffalo, and it was mainly the
gathering and preserving work of
women, based on their intimate
understanding of the Plains
Environment.
Midsummer camp movements were
determined not only by the buffalo but
also by considerations such as the
ripeness and location of saskatoon
berries, the prairie turnip, and other
fruits and tubers.
 The Métis Sash
Blue - Is for the depth of our
spirits.
Green - Is for the fertility of a (L'Assomption Sash)
great nation.
White - Is for our connection
to the earth and our creator.
Yellow - Is for the prospect of
prosperity.
Black - for the dark period of
Métis suppression and
The sash does not only hold sentimental
dispossession of our Métis and cultural value to the Métis. It also
lands. served practical functions. The Métis
used the sash as a tumpline (scarf that
Red - Is for the blood of the holds heavy objects to the back) first aid
kit, rope, clothing, wash cloth and towel,
Métis that shed throughout saddle blanket and the ends of the sash
the years while fighting for would also serve as an emergency
sewing kit on trips and buffalo hunts
our constitutional rights.
 Métis Music and Dance
The Métis are famous
for their fiddle music.
The Métis are famous
for their fiddle music.
Fiddles were
introduced to the
Métis by the Scottish
and French.
Metis Dance

Métis “JIG”
 Métis Modes of Transport
Métis cart Train arriving from the
North of Calgary circa 1870

Each wheel was said to have its own peculiar shriek, announcing the
coming of a train from a great distance. (Grease or oil would have only
mixed with the dust, wearing down the axles.) As it was, a cart often used
four or five axles on the trip to St. Paul from the Red River settlement.
Harness was made from a buffalo hide, often in one piece. Carts moved
single file, except when in danger from Indians, when they traveled several
abreast. Each driver controlled five or six carts strung out behind him,
each ox tied to the cart ahead.
Métis History Presentation
2011
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