1870-Manitoba Enters Confederation

The Manitoba List of Rights is here, which Riel and his followers created and became the Manitoba Constitution upon entering Canada.  More detail on Manitoba entering Canada is here.  Here is some information about the effects on the Metis of Confederation. 

From reading the Manitoba List of Rights (first link above, and remember our class discussion), which became our Constitution, answer the following questions.

1. Laws must be printed in what languages? (hint, check 13.)

2. From reading 19, could 1st Nation people vote?  Could someone newly arrived from the Ukraine vote? Could Women vote? 

3. Number 31 is the promise of 1.4 million acres to the Metis. It was to be handed out to Metis families. Was this promised fulfilled? Read here for more details. 

4. Though upon its entry, the Manitoba Constitution was clear on the protection of French and English rights and the land rights of the Metis. What happened in the following years?

A Standoff

Hanging of Riel

Wolseley portaging Kakabeka falls.

Manitoba Enters Confederation, or does it?

Manitoba

Entered Confederation: 1870

Before 1870, the Hudson's Bay Company owned a huge area in the western part of what is now Canada. This area contained Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory. The people of the Red River Colony in the southern part of Rupert's Land were Métis. They wanted their own government for one main reason: To protect their righrts.

• When the Canadian government bought Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory, see map from earlier post, people were already living on the land. Some had been on the land for generations and thousands of years. 
• The Canadian government was interested in changing how the land was used and changing the people who lived on the land

Winnipeg in 1871

To protect their rights, the Metis chose a man named Louis  Riel to lead them. He set up a government in the Red River Settlement and from there prevented the Government of Canada from taking control of the new Territories that they had just bought. Riel wanted to make sure that the Métis would be consulted. Riel sent people to Ottawa to make an agreement with the Canadian government. They decided to make Manitoba a province.

"We are rebelling against the Company which wants to sell us, and Canada which wants to buy us. We are not rebelling against the British government."

Below are the people that were counted that lived in what is now Winnipeg and the surrounding area (Red River Settlement) 

sources-https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/kids/023002-2050-e.html

Treaties

First there were the Friendship treaties. The Bison roamed the prairies, the european settlers were still new to the land and needed help to survive. The Peguis-Selkirk treaty is below.  Then came the numbered treaties, when the country Canada existed and wanted to make room for European settlers. Paying attention to our class discussion and the links above, and this link, complete the note frame.

We Day

The school is taking applications for this awesome event

The school has said they are looking for people who wish to change the world. The WE Day organization has a similar message,  they are looking for people willing to make a difference in the World. Below is the criteria set out by the school. This year Ms McGowan is taking in the applications.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead