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Chapter
13 The North-West Rebellion 1885
Riel on Trial
It is the summer of 1885. The small courtroom
in Regina is jammed with reporters and curious spectators. Louis Riel is on trial. He is
charged with treason for leading an armed
rebellion against the Queen and her Canadian
government. If he is found guilty, the punishment could be death by hanging.
What has happened over the past 15 years
to bring Louis Riel to this moment? This is the
same Louis Riel who led the Red River
Resistance in 1869-70. This is the Riel who
was called the “Father of Manitoba.” He is
back in Canada.
The case against Riel is being heard by
Judge Hugh Richardson and a jury of six
English-speaking men. The tiny courtroom is
sweltering in the heat of a prairie summer. For
days, Riel’s lawyers argue that he is insane
and cannot tell right from wrong. Then it is
Riel’s turn to speak. The photograph shows
Riel in the witness box telling his story. What
will he say in his own defence? Will the jury
decide he is innocent or guilty? All Canada is
waiting to hear what the outcome of the trial
will be!
Reflecting/Predicting
1. Why do you think Louis Riel is back in Canada after
fleeing to the United States following the Red River
Resistance in 1870?
2. What do you think could have happened to bring Louis
Riel to this trial?
3. Do you think he will be found guilty or innocent?
182
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Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
183
Riel Returns
In 1884, Gabriel Dumont and three
other Métis rode 1100 km from the
What the Métis wanted:
Saskatchewan River valley to
• legal proof that they owned the small spaces of land
Montana. Louis Riel was living in
where they lived
Montana with his family and teach• a voice in their own government
ing school. Dumont’s mission was
to persuade Riel to return to
What the Aboriginal peoples wanted:
Canada and fight again for the
• food and more money in exchange for the use of their
Métis cause. Gabriel Dumont was
land; many people were close to starvation with the
a well-respected hunter and milibuffalo almost wiped out
tary leader. However, he was not
the educated, fiery representative
What the Settlers wanted:
the Métis needed.
• lower prices for farm machinery and for moving goods
Dumont told Riel a very sad
on the railroad
story. After Manitoba joined
• higher prices for their wheat
Confederation, many Métis moved
• a stronger voice for the North-West in Ottawa
farther west into present-day
Saskatchewan and Alberta. They
were looking for wide open spaces
and freedom to live in the traditional Métis way. Canadian government to provide a better deal
Then Canadian surveyors suddenly appeared in for the citizens of the North-West.
the North-West. They started to divide the land
It was a risky move. Conditions had changed
for settlement. The railway was coming
since 1870. Now there was the North-West
through. It would be only a matter of time
Mounted Police to support the Canadian govbefore settlers would flood into their land. It
ernment. There was also a railroad to bring
was the same old problem for the Métis.
troops from eastern Canada.
Riel’s call to take up arms lost him the
Background to Rebellion
support of the settlers. They wanted to see
changes come in a lawful way. Riel also lost the
When Riel first returned to the North-West, he
support of the Roman Catholic Church when he
seemed to have no thought of an armed rebelencouraged the use of arms. Only the Frenchlion. He wanted to try peaceful ways first. Riel
dreamed of bringing the Aboriginal peoples, the speaking Métis and some Aboriginal people
continued to support him.
Métis, and the settlers together. They would
Among the Aboriginal peoples, only chiefs
speak to Ottawa with one voice. A petition to
Big Bear and Poundmaker and their followers
the government was drawn up. A petition is a
joined Riel in the rebellion. They refused to
formal request to an authority for rights, privigive up their way of life and move quietly onto
leges, or other benefits.
the reserves. They became increasingly desperAlthough the government promised to
ate as food grew more scarce. Big Bear was
look into these problems, Ottawa took no real
concerned for his people. The early successes
action. By March 1885, Riel decided to wait no
of Riel and the Métis gave Poundmaker and Big
longer. He planned to use the same methods
Bear hope. But what chance would Riel, the
that had been successful earlier in Manitoba.
Métis, and the few Aboriginal people have
He would set up his own government and arm
against the Canadian government?
his followers. Then he could pressure the
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Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada
The Rebellion Begins
n
i
t
e
l
l
u
B
s
w
Ne
Bloodshed at
Duck Lak88e5 Today, 17
1
26 March
olice
Mounted P
st
e
North-W
Fort
t out from
officers se
od and
pick up fo
Carlton to
t Duck
n stored a
ammunitio
Duck
t 5 km from
Lake. Abou
road
found the
Lake, they
Métis.
a group of
blocked by
greatly
ties were
The Moun
turned
d. They re
outnumbere
hout a
arlton wit
to Fort C
fight.
z ie r
d e n t C ro
S u p e ri n te n
o
e f 50
lead a forc
decided to
nteers
d 50 volu ure
police an
sec
ck Lake to
back to Du
way,
es. On the
their suppli
m
u ont
Gabriel D
they met
m the
llowers. Fro étis
fo
is
h
d
n
a
M
ridge, the
top of a
es as
ti
n
u
o
the M
e
se
ld
u
o
c
e trail.
ced along th tarn
a
v
d
a
y
e
th
sy
es were ea
The Mounti
Ten
s.
ti
é
the M
gets for
d and
were kille
40Mounties
red in the
eleven inju
Frog Lake—2 April 1885
News of the Mountie defeat at Duck Lake
swept across the prairies like wildfire.
Encouraged by this Métis success, some
Aboriginal people decided to strike. One group
broke into the Hudson’s Bay Company store in
Battleford. They took needed supplies.
Big Bear’s son, Wandering Spirit, led a band
of Aboriginal people against the settlement at
Frog Lake. The Indian agent (a government
worker), two priests, and five others were
killed. Then the band headed toward Fort Pitt.
Big Bear, who was a friend of the Mounties,
warned the police to retreat. “My young men
are wild. I can no longer control them,” he
said. Other Aboriginal people under Chief
Poundmaker headed for Battleford.
But Chief Crowfoot and most of the
Aboriginal groups on the prairies refused to
become involved in these battles. The government rushed extra supplies of food and blan-
tis and
le. Four Mé
minute batt
were
n
o
inal pers
est
one Aborig
-W
h
rt
. The No
ed
n
also killed
o
d
n
a
olice ab
to
Mounted P
d
te
a
e
tr
n and re
as
h
Fort Carlto
n
io
ll
e
. A reb
rt
e
lb
A
e
c
n
Pri
st.
e North-We
begun in th
kets to them. Train carloads of flour and sides
of bacon, as well as extra tea and tobacco,
were distributed to these Aboriginal peoples.
The government hoped that this would keep
them neutral during the trouble on the prairies.
Ottawa Sends Troops
Ottawa was alarmed at the news of the Mountie
defeat at Duck Lake. The government decided to
send troops immediately to put down the rebellion. The problem was how to get the troops to
the West quickly. In March 1885, the CPR had not
yet been completed. There were still 138 km of
track to be laid.
William Van Horne was struggling to get the
last sections of track laid. He still needed more
money to finish the job. He saw the uprising as
a chance for the CPR to get another loan from
the government. He promised to have the
troops in Fort Qu’Appelle in ten days in return
for another loan. Van Horne would use one
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Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
185
method or another to get the troops over those
incompleted sections of track!
General Middleton and the first forces left
Toronto for the West. Ahead of them was a
journey of approximately 2200 km. The troops
rode in sleighs provided by the railroad company in some places. On stretches of track
between the gaps, they rode in open flatcars.
The horses suffered even more than the soldiers because there was no way of sheltering
them from the wind and rain. One soldier,
George Beauregard, recalled the misery of
being packed onto flatcars sheltered only by a
scrap of canvas: “There were 50 of us to a car,
piled one on top of another, drenched by the
rain which fell on our backs in torrents. For the
first time, we really knew what misery was.”
Eight days later, the first troops arrived in
Winnipeg. An eyewitness said the troops looked
as if they had already gone through a war.
Many were frostbitten and half-blind with the
glare of the snow.
Van Horne had kept his promise. The troops
were in Fort Qu’Appelle in nine days. The government was happy and the CPR earned the
loan to complete the railroad.
Five thousand armed troops were now in
the West. Added to these were 500 North-West
Mounted Police and 50 surveyors. The surveyors were especially helpful because they knew
the country well.
This was the plan:
1. Troops under General Middleton were to
advance from Qu’Appelle to Riel’s headquarters
at Batoche.
2. A column of soldiers, under Colonel Otter, was
to head north from Swift Current toward
Battleford. Battleford was surrounded by
Poundmaker and his people. Otter’s job was to
relieve the settlement.
3. A third force, under General Strange, was to
leave the train at Calgary.They were to set out
for Edmonton and the North Saskatchewan
River to track down Big Bear.
The railway west was not yet complete.
Four times Middleton’s troops had to
leave their trains in freezing weather to
cross the gaps in the railroad.They had to
drag their guns and horses through deep
snow in temperatures well below 00C.
It was a very rough introduction to the
life of a soldier. Most of the troops were
volunteers. Only a few days before, they
had been shopkeepers and clerks in
eastern Canada.
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Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada
Profiles
Big Bear (Mistahimaskwa)
B
ig Bear was considered one of the most
influential chiefs on the prairies. He was
a chief of the Plains Cree. Big Bear had a
stocky build and great physical strength. He
was an excellent rider and buffalo hunter.
While hunting or during a battle, he could
cling to the side of a galloping horse and
shoot from the underside of the horse’s neck.
Big Bear was deeply concerned about the
disappearance of the buffalo, the increasing
number of settlers, and the destruction of his
people’s way of life. He believed the treaty
conditions were impossible and would leave
his people in poverty. Big Bear and his followers did not want to live on reserves or
accept treaty money from the government.
Earlier in his life, it is said that Big Bear
had a strange dream. He saw a spring of
water spouting up through the ground. In the
dream, Big Bear tried
to stop the flow of
water with his
hands. The water
turned to blood and
squirted through his
fingers. In 1885, the
bad dream came
true. Once again,
Big Bear was not
able to stop the
flow of blood.
Gabriel Dumont
This Métis buffalo hunter was
one of the most
colourful figures
of the North-West
Rebellion of 1885.
He was a crack
shot. He was also
an excellent rider
who caught and
tamed his own
wild horses.
After the rebellion, Dumont worked in the United States as
a sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill’s travelling
Wild West Show.
Dumont showed his skills in military
strategy and leadership during the battles of
the rebellion. He turned the discipline and
tight organization of the Métis buffalo hunt to
his advantage in the military battles. The
Métis used their skill as sharpshooters and
hit-and-run tactics against the Canadian
armies.
In July 1886, the Canadian government
pardoned those who had taken part in the
North-West Rebellion. Dumont did not go
back to the South Saskatchewan River until
1890. During the last years of his life, it is
said he would sit at his cabin door and tell
neighbourhood children tales of the rebellion. He would show them the scar from the
wound in the head he received at Duck Lake.
Then the old buffalo hunter would say, “You
see, my skull was too thick for the soldiers to
kill me!”
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Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
187
General Frederick Middleton
Middleton was a British general who had
spent his entire career in the army. He was
placed in charge of all troops sent to put
down the North-West Rebellion. Why was a
British general in command of Canadian
troops? Canada at this time was still a colony
of Britain. It was Britain’s right to appoint an
experienced British soldier to command the
Canadian militia. The militia were citizens
trained to defend the country and fight as an
army. However, they were called into service
only in times of emergency.
Middleton would have preferred to have
British regular soldiers to fight in his army.
He criticized the
Canadian militia as
“Sunday soldiers,”
and he did not trust
the North-West
Mounted Police.
He was rather stubborn and unwilling to
follow advice. Therefore,
he did not listen to his officers who were much more familiar with the Canadian countryside than he
was. He also underestimated the fighting skills
of the Aboriginal people and the Métis.
Poundmaker (Pitikwahanapiwiyin)
Poundmaker was an adopted son of Crowfoot.
He became a Cree chief in 1878. How did he
get his name? It seems that he had a special
ability to attract buffalo into pounds. A pound
resembled a huge corral. Sometimes a herd of
buffalo were stampeded into this trap. On
other occasions, the buffalo were drawn in
quietly by a person like Poundmaker. He
would dress in a buffalo robe and use a bell to
capture the herd’s curiosity. One time, it is
said Poundmaker lured 500 buffalo into his
pound.
1. Compare the skills, experience, and qualifications of Gabriel Dumont and General
Middleton as military leaders.Who do you
think might have the advantage in battles on
the prairies? Why?
2. Poundmaker, Big Bear, Crowfoot, and other
Plains chiefs are discussing whether or not
Poundmaker
was genuinely concerned about the
welfare of his people. He did not
want to see the
destruction of their
way of life and he
believed the government was not
fulfilling its treaty
promises.
to join Riel in the rebellion. Choose the
role of a chief for or against joining. Outline
your viewpoints and then role play the
meeting. Consider the following:
a) the role of the Mounted Police
b) the soldiers’ military strength
c) feelings among Aboriginal peoples
d) problems facing Aboriginal peoples.
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Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada
Story of a Rebellion
Fish Creek
24 April 1885
Batoche
9 May 1885
General Middleton marches slowly with 850
troops toward Batoche. The soldiers have
cannons and a large wagon train of supplies.
Métis scouts bring Riel daily reports of the
soldiers’ progress. But Riel and Gabriel
Dumont do not agree on what to do. Dumont
wants to act at once. He knows Middleton’s
troops outnumber the Métis and are much
better equipped. He wants to slow down the
troops by means of ambush.
Riel thinks it is better to wait until the
soldiers attack Batoche. He says he has
prayed about it. God has told him that if the
Métis wait, they will win. But Dumont gets
his way.
During the Battle of Fish Creek, Riel is at
his headquarters in Batoche. He can hear the
boom of Middleton’s cannons 13 km away. It
is said that all day he stands praying for success. His arms are stretched out to form a
cross. When his arms tire and seem to drop,
his friends come forward and hold them up.
At Batoche, Middleton’s plan is to use the
Hudson’s Bay Company supply steamer
Northcote. The steamer has been fitted out
as a gunboat. Its sides are barricaded with
planks, boxes, and mattresses. When the
Northcote’s whistle blows, it will be the
signal for the battle to begin. Troops on the
steamer will fire from the river. At the same
time, the general will attack Batoche on
land.
But this first naval battle on the prairies
is a disaster! The Northcote arrives too early.
Métis scouts discover the plan and set a
trap. They stretch a steel wire across the
river. When the Northcote hits the wire, the
smoke funnels and whistle are ripped down.
The whistle cannot blow!
On land, Dumont and his followers have
dug rifle pits in the ground around Batoche.
The pits are carefully hidden in the bush and
shrub. From these protected pits, Métis
sharpshooters fire at approaching troops.
For three days, the cautious Middleton
refuses to allow his army to attack the
Métis rifle pits. Finally, the troops
charge the pits without orders. By this
time the Métis are running out of
ammunition. They are firing only small
stones and nails.
The first skirmish between Middleton
and the Métis is at Fish Creek. Dumont
traps the army in a coulee, a shallow
ravine. Middleton’s troops fight back, but
50 are killed. Dumont loses four of his
followers. He considers it a Métis victory. He has slowed Middleton down.
Now he has more time to gather a
larger force of Métis and Aboriginal
people.
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189
Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
At Batoche, the Métis
take cover in rifle pits. For
three days, Dumont’s plan
works.When Middleton’s
troops attack the high
ground near the church,
they are in full view of the
Métis in their protected
pits. Middleton’s troops
stand out against the
brightness of the sky. It is
a clever scheme. But the
Métis run out of ammunition. It is the decisive
battle of the Rebellion.
The Métis are defeated.
Otter Arrives at Battleford
are nearly driven crazy by mosquitoes. They
have to constantly swat the insects with
branches cut from prairie bushes.
Finally, tired and footsore, Otter’s column arrives at Battleford. The people are
relieved. For almost a month they have lived
in constant fear of an attack.
er
Winnipeg
Red Riv
er
200 km
R iv
0
Lake
Winnipeg
e
iniboi n
Ass
a n River
S ask atch
In the meantime, at Battleford, frightened
citizens take shelter in the North-West
Mounted Police barracks. Colonel Otter and
his troops are coming from Swift Current to
relieve Battleford. They have 200 loaded
wagons, 600 horses, and 500 soldiers.
For these volunteers
from eastern Canada, it is
the first time they have expeTHE REBELLION OF 1885
General Strange
General Middleton
rienced the open spaces and
Lt. Colonel Otter
Battle site
the cold April winds of the
Frog Lake
prairies. At night, freezing
Edmonton
iver
R
temperatures make sleeping
Frenchman's Butte
Fort Pitt
ewan
Cut Knife Hill
Fort
on the frozen ground a torCarlton
Batoche
ture. There is nothing to eat
Battleford
Fish Creek
North
Duck
but salt pork and hardtack.
Lake Saskatoon
Hardtack is a thick, stale
Calgary
Fort
biscuit that is often full of
South
Qu'Appelle
S askat c h ew CPR
Fort Macleod
maggots. To drink, there is
Swift Current
Regina
only unsweetened tea made
Fort Walsh
from the bitter, salty water of
Can ada
Unit ed Stat es
the prairie ponds. During the
day, the weather becomes
N
quite hot. Then the soldiers
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Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada
Cut Knife Hill
2 May 1885
Colonel Otter decides to pursue Poundmaker.
He believes it is wise to confront Poundmaker
before he and Big Bear can combine forces
and go to help Riel at Batoche. Otter has two
cannons and a secret weapon—a Gatling
gun. This is an early type of machine gun.
Otter’s plan is to move forward under the
cover of night and attack Poundmaker at daybreak on 2 May 1885. But Poundmaker and
the Crees are ready for the attack. Although
their guns are old, their aim is good. Cree
snipers pick off Colonel Otter’s troops.
Gradually, the Cree encircle the base of the
hill. They creep through the bush until Otter’s
forces are almost completely surrounded.
The troops are firing down on the Cree
with their Gatling gun. At first, the Cree are
alarmed with the noise. But soon they realize
that the bullets are passing harmlessly over
their heads. One group tries to rush the hill to
seize the gun, but is forced back with rifle
fire. At a crucial moment, the two cannons
refuse to fire. They are not in good working
condition.
By late morning, Otter’s troops are in serious trouble. The list of wounded soldiers is
growing. Otter knows that the Cree will soon
surround him and cut off his only line of
retreat across Cut Knife
Creek. He gives the order
to withdraw to Battleford.
Riel Surrenders
15 May 1885
Government troops take up their position high on Cut Knife Hill
overlooking Poundmaker’s camp. From there, they fire cannons
down on the village. But the Cree take positions in the shelter of
the wooded valley below.They gladly leave the exposed positions
to Otter’s troops. Otter is surrounded and must retreat.
After the defeat at
Batoche, Riel writes a letter to Middleton. He
offers to surrender himself if Middleton will
allow the Métis to go free.
On the outside of the
envelope, Riel scribbles
the words: “I do not like
war.”
Gabriel Dumont tries
to persuade Riel to flee
with him to the United
States. Riel refuses to go.
Sadly, Dumont leaves
without his leader. The
old buffalo hunter slips
through Middleton’s military patrols and enters the
United States.
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Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
Poundmaker Surrenders
23 May 1885
When Poundmaker hears the news of Riel’s
defeat at Batoche, he does not follow Otter’s
troops. Poundmaker is convinced that to
struggle alone is useless. On 23 May 1885, he
voluntarily surrenders to General Middleton.
Big Bear Surrenders
2 July 1885
Farther west, General Strange meets Big Bear
in battle at Frenchman’s Butte. The troops
have the advantage of heavy guns. Big Bear’s
followers begin to disperse. He and a few others avoid capture by heading north into the
woods and lake country.
Three groups set out in
search of Big Bear. Finding
Big Bear is important to the
The Gatling Gun was a
hand-cranked gun with six
barrels revolving around a
central shaft.The gun was
capable of firing 600 rounds
of ammunition a minute. It
was invented by an
American, Richard J.
Gatling, and was first used
in the American Civil War.
Gatling continued to make
improvements to his gun
and began to sell his
machine guns throughout
the world.
191
military because Big Bear’s Crees had taken
prisoners at Frog Lake and Fort Pitt. As it
turns out, the prisoners were released
unharmed.
All through the hot days of June, the soldiers pursue Big Bear. Through dense bush
and swamps where the mosquitoes drive
troops and horses mad, the chase continues.
By the end of June, Big Bear is out of ammunition and food. On 2 July 1885, he surrenders
to the North-West Mounted Police at Fort
Carlton. The North-West Rebellion is over.
From the outbreak of fighting at Duck Lake to
the surrender of Big Bear, exactly 100 days
have passed.
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Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada
Skill Building: Analyzing Bias
Have you ever wondered why two historical
accounts of an event can be very different?
Sometimes an event occurred so far in the past
that no accurate records of it exist today, or
ever existed. Sometimes eyewitnesses have given
conflicting accounts of the event. If there is more
than one account of an event, a historian will
choose the one that she or he feels is more
accurate or that best suits her or his own interpretation.This is because each historian (and
every person) has a bias.
A person’s bias is shaped by his or her
frame of reference. Frame of reference is
determined by a person’s experiences, family,
friends, occupation, religion, location, interests,
and politics.Two historians writing about the
North-West Rebellion may have different frames
of reference. One may believe in preserving the
traditional lifestyles of Aboriginal peoples.The
other may favour the idea of progress and settlement, and think that the changes the settlers
brought were good for Canada.
Read the two fictional accounts of the battle
at Batoche below and then answer the questions
that follow.
E
T
T
E
Z
A
G
N
O
HAMILT
13 May 1885
ed out
mer was fitt
ea
st
e
h
T
.
for a
hcote
plan called
attle Nort
b
e
h
a
T
t
u
.
o
at
o
ab
b
an
n
reached us
e Saskatchew
al as a gu
Today news
tack from th
ich Gener
er
h
at
v
w
ri
se
e
ri
th
rp
in
m
su
e
fro
at Batoch
yal troops
ps would fire
lo
o
at
ro
is
rs
T
h
.
te
er
ar
d
iv
u
q
R
an
r head
that
ei
is
th
ét
in
M
Middleton
s
d
el
b
e, the
e re
Indians an
way at th
e in Batoch
e
il
h
th
w
n
in
showed the
d
ea
M
an
le for
che.
o longer st
had to hudd
most Bato
rs
al
te
o
is
o
they could n
sh
ad
p
ro
Métis shar
. The rail
the ground.
of progress
government
in pits dug in
n
n
ia
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ct
an
es that
te
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ro
e
p
Th
ton estimat
ill be
le
w
d
s
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completed.
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ir
ra
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p
reports
Gener
that the
e high. He
er
w
is determined thousands of settlers
es
ti
al
that 51
rebel casu
the
est told him
ri
p
c
opened to
li
o
t.
h
at
es
at
aC
n flood w
were killed
that that
is
n
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ar
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le
who will soo
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e
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itnesses
e wounded.
tack India
From eyew
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and 173 wer
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B
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General Mid
the steamer
iant use of
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Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
193
MONTRÉAL MATIN
12 May 1885
Today news reached us ab
out a battle at ripped down
. The Northcote drifted helpl
Batoche. A handful of Méti
essly
s and Indians down the riv
er. So much for the general's cle
fought courageously to defend
ver
their lands. All battle plan!
the Métis and Indians want is
to maintain their
Métis and Indian snipers
open spaces, the buffalo, and the
were hidden
ir way of life. everywhere. Fro
m rifle pits dug in the groun
From eyewitness accounts at
d
the battle we for protectio
n and from the bush
learned that General Middlet
,
on's attempt to sharpshooter
s could pick off Middlet
attack Batoche was a disast
on's
er. Clever Métis troops lik
e sitting ducks. If only they ha
scouts set a trap for the ste
d not
amer Northcote. run out of
ammunition, a Métis victor
They stretched steel wi
y at
re across the Batoche wo
uld have been cer tain. As
Saskatchewan River. When
it is,
the so-called Dumont rep
orts only 13 Indians and M
gunboat struck the wire, its sm
étis
okestacks were killed and 2
wounded.
Note: The term “Indians” is used in these articles in its historical context.
Examine Closely
1. In your own words, state the bias in the
Hamilton Gazette article. Also, state the bias in
the Montréal Matin article.
2. Bias can lead to different interpretations of
the same fact. Find two facts that both stories
discuss but disagree on.
3. Bias also occurs in the use of language.The
historian might use negative words to enforce
his or her point of view. Can you find two words
or phrases in the Hamilton Gazette story that
describe the Aboriginal peoples in negative
terms? What two words or phrases in the
Montréal Matin article describe General
Middleton and his troops in negative terms?
4. A historian can use positive or favourable
words to describe her or his point of view.
Search for two words or phrases in the
Hamilton Gazette story that describe General
Middleton and his soldiers in a positive light. In
the Montréal Matin article, find two words or
phrases that show the Métis and “Indians” in a
positive light.
5. Another kind of bias occurs when sarcasm
or humour is used. One example from the
excerpts is the Montréal Matin’s reference to the
Northcote as the “so-called gunboat.” Find
another example of sarcasm or humour in the
Montréal Matin account.
6. Bias sometimes causes the reporting of facts
to be different. Look at the statistics of Métis
and “Indian” casualties in the two newspaper
accounts. Suggest some reasons why the two
estimates differ.Which source do you think you
can trust? Why?
7. Explain how the frame of reference of the
Hamilton Gazette might account for the bias of
the newspaper in reporting this battle. How does
the frame of reference of the Montréal Matin
account for its bias?
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Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada
Civics &
Society
Trials in the North-West
ouis Riel, Poundmaker, and
Big Bear were all prisoners
of the Canadian government. All
would be brought to trial for
their part in the rebellion. A formal charge of treason was laid
against them. What would be
their fate?
L
In all, 44 Aboriginal people
were convicted of various
crimes. Eight were hanged.
In addition, 18 Métis were
eventually sent to prison for
their part in the 1885
Rebellion.
Poundmaker’s Trial
When Poundmaker surrendered
and was brought before General
Middleton, he offered to shake
hands. Middleton refused. At
Poundmaker’s trial, the general
said, “Poundmaker, you are
accused of high treason.”
However, there was no phrase
for “high treason” in the Cree
language. The interpreter tried
to make the charge clear to
Poundmaker. “You are accused
of throwing sticks at the Queen
and trying to knock off her bonnet” was the explanation of the
charge.
Poundmaker insisted at his
trial that he had not fired first at
Cut Knife Hill. He also replied
that he was only trying to
improve the living conditions
for his people. He pointed out
that he actually saved peoples’
lives. He held back his followers when Otter and his soldiers
were retreating at Cut Knife
Hill. The jury ruled that
Poundmaker was guilty. He was
sentenced to three years in
Stoney Mountain Penitentiary.
After two years, he was
released, but he died a few
months later.
Big Bear’s Trial
At Poundmaker’s trial, General Middleton sat on a chair with
his interpreter nearby and his officers in a half circle behind
him. Poundmaker and his chiefs sat on the grass before him.
Poundmaker was accused of high treason and sentenced to
prison.
Big Bear was also tried for treason at Regina. He was charged
with the deaths of the people at
Frog Lake and with taking prisoners. Some witnesses testified
that Big Bear cried out against
the killings at Frog Lake. He personally protected the prisoners
that his followers had captured.
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Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
The chief delivered a speech in Cree to
the court. He pleaded more for his people
than he did for himself.
I ruled my country for long. Now I am in
chains and will be sent to prison. . . . Now
I am as dead to my people. Many of them
are hiding in the woods. . . . Can this court
not send them a pardon? My own children
may be starving and afraid to come out of
hiding. I plead to you Chiefs of the white
man’s laws for pity and help for the people of my band.
Big Bear was also found guilty and sentenced
to three years in the Stoney Mountain Penitentiary. He was released two years later, but
like Poundmaker, died shortly afterwards.
195
make his Métis followers look foolish for following an insane man.
The lawyers for the Canadian government
argued that Riel was sane. They argued that
no insane person could lead 700 people into a
rebellion. They believed Riel knew what he
was doing. He had taken up arms against the
government. He had stirred up the Aboriginal
peoples. He was guilty of treason!
Riel’s jury took only one hour and twenty
minutes to reach a decision. They declared
him guilty. Mr. Justice Richardson, the trial
judge, read the sentence:
You shall be taken now from here to the
police guardroom at Regina jail . . . and on
the 18th of September . . . be hanged by
the neck till you are dead, and may God
have mercy on your soul.
Riel on Trial
The trial that aroused the greatest interest
and excitement across Canada was the trial of
Louis Riel. Held in Regina, it has been called
the most important trial in Canadian history.
The outcome is still debated.
Six settlers were chosen to act as Riel’s
jury. All were English-speaking and of the
Protestant religion. Riel was French-speaking
and of the Roman Catholic religion. His
friends feared he would not get a fair trial.
Lawyers were hired to defend Riel. Money
was raised in Québec by the Riel Defence
Committee to pay all the expenses. His
lawyers believed that the only hope of saving
Riel was to plead insanity. If he were insane,
then during the rebellion Riel would not have
been able to tell right from wrong. This would
mean he could not be held responsible for his
actions. His lawyers pointed out that twice Riel
had been in institutions for the mentally ill.
Riel himself would not accept this excuse
of insanity. In two long speeches to his jury,
he argued that he was sane. For Riel, to plead
insanity would be a disgrace. It would also
1. Do you think Poundmaker and Big Bear got
a fair trial? Why or why not?
2. Divide your class into groups and put Riel
on trial.You will need a judge, a prosecuting
lawyer, a defending lawyer, Riel, a six-person
jury, witnesses, reporters, and spectators. If
you decide not to hang Riel, what else can
you do with him? Did Riel get a fair trial in
your class? In Regina in 1885? Explain your
answer.
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Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada
Fast Forward
Louis Riel Today
In 1885 Riel was executed as a traitor. Today
many more people are seeing him as a hero.
In 1992, more than 100 years after Riel was
hanged in Regina, the Canadian Parliament
passed a bill. It recognized the contributions
that Louis Riel made to Canada’s growth as a
nation. Other attempts have been made to
have Riel’s conviction for high treason
reversed and to have him formally recognized
as a Father of Confederation and the Founder
of Manitoba. Some new evidence suggests
that the Chief Justice in Manitoba at the time
of Riel’s trial was secretly working to ensure
his execution because it was what federal
politicians wanted. Recently, a Member of
Parliament suggested that July 15 be recognized as Louis Riel Day. The issue of Riel’s
true position in Canadian history is still
debated.
Riel is Executed
Letters from all provinces poured into Ottawa.
“Hang Riel,” said some. “Free Riel,” said others.
Twice the execution was delayed. Sir John A.
Macdonald and his Conservative government
were in a tricky position. If Riel was not hanged,
Ontario would be enraged. The Conservatives
would lose votes in Ontario in the next election.
If Riel was punished, then Québec would be
angry with the Conservative party.
Finally, Macdonald decided he would have
to take his chances with losing support in
Québec. “Riel shall hang,” he is reported to
have said, “though every dog in Québec shall
bark.”
On the bright, cold day of 16 November
1885, the execution was carried out in the
Regina jail. Riel was dressed in a black coat, a
woollen shirt, grey trousers, and moccasins.
Two priests, two guards, and the deputy sheriff
What does this cartoon suggest about John
A. Macdonald’s position over the Riel affair?
Use your skills to analyze the cartoon.
walked with him from his cell to the scaffold.
Riel said, “I thank God for having given me the
strength to die well . . . I die at peace with God
and man, and I thank all those who helped me
in my misfortunes.” Riel showed no signs of
weakness. During the Lord’s Prayer, the trapdoor opened. Riel was hanged.
On the day of the execution, crowds gathered quietly in English-speaking Canada to hear
the news. In French-speaking Canada, however,
the reaction was quite different. Flags flew at
half-mast. Black-framed pictures of Riel
appeared in store windows. Hundreds of students in Montréal shouted “Glory to Riel!”
Likenesses of Sir John A. Macdonald were
burned openly in the streets.
In the newspapers and in Parliament,
French-speaking Canadians blamed the death
of Riel on Macdonald and English Canada.
They said that he had been murdered because
he was French. They asked, “Could
Confederation, which had joined English and
French together, manage to survive?”
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Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
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Results of the Rebellion
For Aboriginal Peoples
1. The only Aboriginal rebellion in Canadian history was put down by force.
2. The Aboriginal peoples realized that the government was going to enforce the treaties. Since
rebellion was unsuccessful, they had no other choice than to move onto the reserves.
3. Aboriginal people who took part in the rebellion lost their annual government payments.
Their horses and ammunition were seized.
For the Métis
1. Many Métis fled to the wilderness in northern Alberta.
2. Others took scrip worth $169-$240.They took the money because they remembered how
they were unable to keep their land after 1870.When this money was gone, these Métis
would have neither land nor money.
3. The Métis Nation was broken up. Not until the 20th century were Métis organizations
formed again to improve conditions for their people.
For French-English Relations in Canada
1. The split between English-speaking and French-speaking people over the Riel affair was bitter.
Neither side forgave the other for its view of Riel.
2. Hard feelings between Ontario Protestants and Québec Catholics lasted a long time after
Riel’s execution.
For Political Parties
1. Many people in Québec stopped voting for the Conservative party.They no longer supported
the party that had hanged Riel.
2. Many people of Québec began to vote in large numbers for the Liberal party.This was especially true after the Liberals chose a French-Canadian leader,Wilfrid Laurier.
For Western Canada
1. The railroad was completed to bring the troops west.
2. Settlers felt more secure in moving to the West because the rebellions had been put down.
3. Many soldiers who fought in the rebellion settled in the West.
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Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada
Activities
Understanding Concepts
1. Add these new terms to your Factfile.
petition
militia
Battle of Duck Lake
Battle of Fish Creek
Battle of Batoche
Battle of Cut Knife Hill
Gatling gun
high treason
plea of insanity
2. a) On an outline map of western Canada, locate the following places. Use an
atlas to help you.
North Saskatchewan River
South Saskatchewan River
CPR
Batoche
Battleford
Fort Pitt
Medicine Hat
Cut Knife
Qu’Appelle
Prince Albert
Duck Lake
Winnipeg
Fort Carlton
Swift Current
Regina
Frog Lake
b) Devise symbols to mark each battle site in the North-West Rebellion and
indicate who was fighting whom at each location.
3. a) Why would Riel be considered a hero in Québec?
b) How did the Riel situation create problems for Sir John A. Macdonald?
c) How did the people of Ontario react to Québec’s opinion of Riel? Why?
Digging Deeper
4. THINK Gabriel Dumont and his Métis followers made a long trip to Montana
to see Riel. Imagine you are a member of this Métis group. Make a list of the
arguments you would use to persuade Riel to come back to Canada and lead
the Métis people.
5. COMPARE Develop a comparison organizer to determine the similarities and
differences between the forces of Middleton and Dumont. Use the following
headings in your organizer.
a) battle tactics and strategies
b) available military equipment
c) skills of the soldiers
d) importance of the railroad in the campaign
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Chapter 13: The North-West Rebellion 1885
6. TIMELINE Arrange the following events in the history of the Canadian West in
chronological order.Then create a timeline to record and illustrate the events.
Remember to give your timeline a title.
a) The Manitoba Act
b) the Red River Resistance
c) the last spike ceremony at Craigellachie
d) the signing of Treaty Number 7 with the Blackfoot (Siksika)
e) the hanging of Louis Riel
f) the Great March of the North-West Mounted Police
g) Gabriel Dumont’s ride to convince Louis Riel to return to Saskatchewan
h) the British North America Act
i) the Pacific Scandal
j) John A. Macdonald’s National Policy
7. THINK/WRITE Do you think that the Métis should have fought against the
government? Can you think of anything they could have done instead? Write a
letter to the editor that would appear in a newspaper of the time giving your
point of view.
8. SPEAK/LISTEN Imagine that you are either a soldier with Colonel Otter or
one of Poundmaker’s followers.You are asked to be a witness at Poundmaker’s
trial. Audiotape your eyewitness report of the Battle at Cut Knife Hill.
Compare your version with a partner who has taken the same role as you
have and another partner who has taken the role of an individual on the other
side of the battle. Note similarities, differences, and any biases.
9. CLASS SURVEY Gabriel Dumont, Riel’s commander, was eventually pardoned
for his part in the rebellion. Riel was hanged. Do a class survey to determine
how many people believe this was fair or not fair. List reasons for both sides.
Making New Connections
10. CREATE In 1967, Canada’s Centennial year, Poundmaker’s bones were moved
to Cut Knife Hill Reserve and a plaque was put up to honour the chief.What
do you think this plaque might say? Create a model of the plaque for
Poundmaker, as well as plaques for Big Bear, Gabriel Dumont, and General
Middleton. Decide where each plaque should be placed to best remember
these people from our past.
11. DEBATE Debate this statement: “It is time that Louis Riel be recognized as a
Father of Confederation.”
12. CURRENT EVENTS In Canada today, there are still many land claims of
Aboriginal peoples that have not been resolved. In some cases, there have been
armed conflicts where Aboriginal people or police have been killed. Could
something like the Rebellion of 1885 happen today? What do you think needs
to be done to avoid armed conflicts?
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