Metis People Of Canada example essay topic

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. The word Metis is a French word that means: "mixed race". Today it is often used for anyone who has European - Indian heritage, but when the colonies of Canada were being formed Metis had a specific meaning.

The roots for this hybrid race came from French - Indian ancestry. It did not matter how much of each you had in you, as long as there was some of each. At the time, the Metis seemed to be superior in comparison to the individual Indian or Frenchman, because they appeared to possess certain marks of superiority over both parent types or strains. This meant they had all of the good characteristics from each group and left the bad ones behind.

The history of the Metis started with the European colonization of North America. With the arrival of the West European powers, fraternization and trade began between the European settlers and the many First Nations peoples throughout Canada. The French were the first foreign power to realize the potential benefits of allying with the First Nations peoples. Consequently, the French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, proposed a union of the French and First Nations. Champlain's, and therefore France's, goal was to create a mixed-blood race to populate the continent and form a new, thriving colony for France. The offspring of these unions did not live the life Champlain envisioned; instead they often lived exclusively with one group or another.

It was not until the years when fur trading became a lucrative, thriving business that children of mixed descent began to realize their own unique place in the world. When these times arose, these children were the envy of most because they were not only bilingual and bi cultural, but they also knew the lifestyles of both the white man and the Indian. These Metis children were also important because with the help of Indian savvy and white technology became a dominant force in the opening of the Canadian West. The most sought after reason for the envy was because of the jobs they were offered. If they were able to read and write, they were in huge demand at one of the trading companies. Some would follow in their fathers footsteps and become trappers and traders, a few Metis would even become chiefs of Indian tribes, because of their knowledge of the white man.

The circumstances that existed at this time encouraged the Metis people to begin to formulate their own identity. In the early parts of the 17th century, France created the Voyageur system. Voyageurs were labourers who would transport trade goods between First Nations peoples and the French trading posts. They functioned under very strict French and Church law. Eventually, several European and Metis individuals and groups began to trade without the French state's approval. These traders were called couriers de bois and were vilified by both France and the Church.

Since the couriers de bois acted as free agents, France, and later England, could not profit from transactions made by the couriers. To counteract the loss in potential revenue, strict measures were created to prevent the couriers de bois from doing any business. These strict measures were called the "cong e" system, this was a licensing system where by not more than seventy-five traders would go to the west each year. Many traders were arrested, and often, were saved only because of strong ties with their First Nations allies. Often these couriers de bois would take First Nations wives, and so the Metis population began to grow. In the year 1768, the Northwest Company was founded.

This new trading company was primarily made up of French Canadians and its creation was a direct threat to the Hudson's Bay Company, which held an absolute monopoly on the fur trade. In the middle of this conflict were the Metis, who held important positions as traders, labourers and clerks within both trading companies. By the end of the 18th century, many Metis people had begun to congregate around the trading posts at Red River. Many of the clerks working for either trading company were Metis and so the conflict grew in significance. Eventually the harsh methods of the Hudson's Bay Company caused the Metis to become disillusioned and so many joined with the Northwest Company. With increase in trade activity around the red river valley, there was an increased need for transportation other than the waterways.

The ox and cart had been used for many years but the Metis re-vamped this idea by having the first cart tied to the right hand rear of the second Ox, and so on. The driver would be able to be in charge of up to five Ox and cart at the same time. This new version of an old idea was called the Red River Cart". It allowed the Metis to travel with a larger amount of goods and become more efficient because of the reduced risk of the carts getting stuck due to five cart tracks being set instead of one track, which had been done previously. The conflict between the two companies came to a head when the Hudson's Bay Company devised a strategy to eliminate its rival. The company claimed it had a legal right to the Red River area.

It granted the land to Thomas Scott, Fifth Earl of Scotland, and several hundred European settlers. The Hudson's Bay Company expected these settlers to help police the Metis population that had become involved with, and loyal to, the Northwest Company. As soon as the land transfer took place, the settlers immediately came into conflict with the First Nations and Metis people. They claimed One Hundred and Sixteen Thousand square miles of land that the Metis had used for hunting and trapping. Eventually, the conflict between the two companies was halted as the British government, tired of the lawless struggle, forced the companies to merge in 1821. In 1816, the Governor of the European Red River settlement, Semple, gathered a group of men together to enforce his rule and to prevent the Metis from supplying Pemmican to the surrounding forts.

The sale of Pemmican had become a major economic tool for the Metis to earn a living. Semple, backed by the Hudson's Bay Company, made the Pemmican Proclamation in 1814 that outlawed the sale of Pemmican by the Metis. At the Seven Oaks ravine, Semple and his band of policemen, intercepted a group of Metis, led by Cuthbert Grant, transporting Pemmican for trade. Eventually, the conflict erupted into a physical confrontation and Semple and twenty other settlers were killed. In contrast, only one Metis man died as a result of the clash. After the skirmish, Grant surrendered himself to the British and an investigation was carried out; however, Grant was eventually exonerated of all charges.

This skirmish marked the first time that the Metis people fought for themselves and it marked the beginning of their self-discovery as a separate nation. The next step in the Metis peoples quest for self-identification came after the merger of the two trading companies. After the merger, the Hudson's Bay Company became even more tyrannical in its efforts to maximize its own profits by eliminating any unsanctioned trading. An example of its immoral methods was the enactment of a company policy that allowed Hudson's Bay clerks, backed by policemen, to enter into a trapper's home and remove all of the furs discovered without giving the trapper any compensation. By 1845, the Metis population demanded that they be given some authority and a voice in the administration of the Northwest. The Hudson's Bay Company denied this request; therefore the Metis people were once again forced into action.

In 1849, a young Metis trader named Guillaume Sayer was arrested for trading without the company's permission. He was tried and found guilty, but was subsequently dismissed when three hundred armed Metis surrounded the courthouse and demanded that he be set free. At the same time, the Metis issued several more demands. The first was that free trade be allowed at Red River. The second was that Metis people be represented on the local governing council. The final demand was that court proceedings against French Metis people be conducted in French.

The Hudson's Bay Company now found that it could no longer enforce its authority over the unified Metis at Red River - their political power was finally being recognized. The next major step for the Metis occurred in 1869. Throughout the 1860's, Canada had undergone several profound changes. The industrial factions in Eastern Canada, including then Prime Minister John A. MacDonald, had begun their attempts to annex the Northwest Territories from the Hudson's Bay Company. This industrial faction needed the Northwest so that the trans-Canada railroad could be completed. In addition, they wanted control over the Northwest's rich natural resources.

The plan involved purchasing the land from Britain and the Hudson's Bay Company without getting the consent of the people actually residing on the land itself or properly compensating them. Cries of tyranny and dictatorship were raised not only by the Metis but many of the European settlers as well. Several high ranking Hudson's Bay officials, like governor William MacTavish, also opposed the annexation. Although the Metis and settler groups did not really trust each other, they recognized the need to fight together in order to defeat a common enemy. In addition, the Metis saw the conflict between the Hudson's Bay officials and Ottawa as an excellent way to rid themselves of company rule and establish a democratic government in the Northwest. By 1869, the Metis population at Red River was approximately ten thousand people compared to only fifteen hundred European settlers.

The Metis people were now a serious group by numbers in the Northwest and so they were able to form the Metis National Committee. The Hudson's Bay Company, realizing that it had lost all control, surrendered, and Governor MacTavish declared himself stripped of all authority. The Metis National Committee then began organizing themselves to resist Ottawa's seizure of their homes and lands. When the new governor appointed by Ottawa, William MacDougal, attempted to enter his new domain he was greeted by a band of armed Metis led by Ambrose Levine. These men advised MacDougal in no uncertain terms that he was not welcome in the Northwest.

On December 6, 1869, the Metis militia took control of Fort Garry, which included the now displaced Governor MacTavish's residence. By December 8, the Metis issued the Declaration of the People of Rupert's Land and the Northwest. This declaration contained three major points that the Metis considered necessary for their own survival. These points were: 1) When people have no government, the yare free to adopt one form of government, in preference to another, to give or to refuse allegiance to what is proposed. 2) The Hudson's Bay Company having abandoned the people, without their consent, to a foreign power, the people are free to establish a provisional government and "hold it to be the only and lawful authority now in existence in Rupert's Land and the Northwest, which claims the obedience and respect of the people". 3) The provisional government would "enter into such negotiations with the Canadian government as may be favourable for the good government and prosperity of this people".

The comprehensive nature of these points proved that the Metis were able to act in a politically judicious fashion. The declaration addressed responsible government, legal rights, and the control of land and its resources. It also showed that the Metis were willing to negotiate and to comply with Ottawa's governance as long as their needs were met. Their responsible and decisive action, coupled with their willingness to cooperate provided their requirements were addressed, dismissed the argument that the Metis were just a band of armed insurgents. The next step for the Metis came after Ottawa covertly sent several Orangemen to Red River.

Orangemen was a term given to pro-British loyalists who were often racists and bigots. The most notorious of these Orangemen was Doctor J.C. Schultz, a physician from Kingston who saw this as an excellent opportunity to acquire a great deal of wealth when the federal government took over the Northwest. This group attempted to bribe Metis leaders or force them into submission with threats and acts of violence. The Orangemen believed that they would quickly gain the support of the European settlers as well as the Metis of British and Scottish heritage.

They completely misjudged the situation as many of these settlers despised the Orangemen and once again united with the Metis in opposing a common enemy. After Ottawa's clandestine operation became apparent, the Metis formed a provisional government on January 25, 1870. John Bruce, a Metis man, was named President. The provisional government's main purpose was to protect Metis rights when the Canadian government gained administrative control over the Northwest. However, events conspired to force the government into other roles.

The provisional government played a key role in an incident that allowed Ottawa to justify sending armed troops to the Northwest. A group of insurgents had been sent to the Northwest in order to disrupt the area. One of the members of the group was Thomas Scott. Scott was an agitator who had been arrested once again for taking up arms against the provisional government. He had already been imprisoned twice before for the same activities. Scott was tried before a jury of seven local residents and was found guilty and sentenced to death.

The execution was legalized by the provisional government and subsequently carried out. The fact that the Metis gave Scott so many opportunities to change his ways before finally resorting to his execution demonstrates their leniency and willingness to comply with the federal government. However, their willingness to act with force when they had no other viable alternative meant that the provisional government began to enjoy even greater support from its residents. After Scott's execution, Ottawa began to plan its annexation in earnest. First, it again sent several men, including a high-ranking Hudson's Bay official named Douglas Smith, to subvert the provisional government. These men arrived with a great deal of wealth that was intended as bribes for the Metis leaders.

Smith soon found that he was not able to successfully bribe enough leaders. When he spoke to the provisional government he quickly realized how deeply seeded the resistance at Red River was. The Metis commitment to the resistance grew and by February 1870, Louis Riel, executive of the provisional government and a powerful orator, drew up the List of Rights. This list contained several points supporting the creation of a new province with the same rights and privileges of any other Canadian province.

The list also proclaimed that this new province would be governed by an elected legislature, senate and a lieutenant governor. The province would also enjoy representation in the federal Senate and the House of Commons. One of the most important points contained in the List of Rights was that all properties, rights, and privileges, held by residents of the Northwest would be respected by the federal government. Despite the actions of the federal government to date, the Metis people were still eager to negotiate in a political arena. Unfortunately, the Metis' willingness to negotiate with Ottawa was ruthlessly exploited. While pretending compliance with the Metis agenda, the federal government continued to work towards convincing the British Empire that it was in its' own best interest to aid the Canadian government with a loan of troops.

Britain agreed to provide this assistance because of the large amount of money the Canadian government pledged to give Britain for the purchase of the Northwest. On July 15, 1870, the Northwest became the province of Manitoba and the Metis residents were given several promises based on their List of Rights. At the same time, four hundred British troops, under the command of Colonel G.J. Wolseley, began the trek from Ottawa to Red River, supposedly for a peace mission. The provisional government promptly became aware of the situation and made the decision that resistance against British troops would probably only make matters much worse. They believed that if the Metis people killed British troops, there was a possibility that Britain might retaliate by taking a more direct hand in the conflict.

Several prominent Metis leaders, including Louis Riel, fled. The arrival of the British troops saw the provisional government crushed and a reign of terror began against the remaining Metis. Despite this defeat, in 1871, Louis Riel was elected as the region's representative to the House of Commons. Despite the risks, Riel arrived at the House of Commons to take his oath but was summarily dismissed because of his actions in the Scott execution. Riel was once again forced to leave Canada and went to Montana. Over the next decade, hostilities between the Metis and the federal government steadily increased.

The East shamelessly exploited Western Canada. Farmers saw their lands given away to the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Western Canada's exports were artificially forced into a huge drop in price. Resentment in the west was on the rise. Even with the creation of Manitoba, a large part of Western Canada still did not have a proper government.

By 1884, the Metis people had had enough and began planning another resistance. A delegation, including Gabriel Dumont, was sent to Montana to bring back Riel. This action gave the federal government the pretext to prepare another military expedition against the west. In the meantime, the federal government made concessions for the European settlers in Western Canada but the Metis were not included in these concessions. This injustice provoked the Metis to even greater resentment against the government. Their understandable anger was used as justification for sending troops to the area from Ottawa - the soldiers were necessary to protect the European settlers from the Metis.

Events came to a head when fifty North West Mounted Police entered the town of Batoche and threatened the Batoche Half-breed Council. The Mounted Police also threatened to arrest Gabriel Dumont, who was chief of the Council. This action fostered further resentment because the Metis in the Batoche, St. Laurent and St. Louis regions had democratically elected the Council that had been created to aid Metis families who risked losing their lands to the Prince Albert Colonization Land Company. After much discussion, and feeling they had no other real options, it was decided by the council that the Metis people would "defend their land with guns if necessary". By March 19, 1885, the Metis formed a new provisional government with Louis Riel at its head. On March 21st of the same year, John A. MacDonald announced to all of Canada that the Metis had taken up arms against the federal government.

Eventually, an expeditionary force of one thousand militia was sent to quell the uprising at Batoche. The militia was poorly trained and was forced to flee several times by a much smaller Metis force. The Metis could have pressed their advantage but Riel prevented them. He still hoped for a peaceful, political compromise. Unfortunately for the Metis, the federal government's superiority in the number of men and amount of equipment took its toll and by May 8th, the town of Batoche was surrounded and shelled by cannon. Riel was captured and tried for treason by a federal court.

He was found guilty and was summarily executed by hanging. Even after the two crushing defeats suffered by the Metis people at the end of the 19th century, many still continued to fight for their rights as a unique people. Often, the Metis people were mistreated. They had few opportunities to improve their circumstances and many were starving. The European settlers did not welcome them and even the First Nations people often did not respect them as equals. Today the ongoing struggle of the Metis to be recognized as a unique group of people who have made valuable contributions to this country since the beginning, and who are entitled to certain rights and privileges, continues.

As a consequence of the ongoing endeavors of many Metis, as well as their supporters, results are finally being seen. Organizations such as the Metis Nation of Ontario or the Metis National Council promote both the history of the Metis as well as their distinctive culture and an identity of their way of life. Land claims made by these organizations are finally being resolved with the federal government. The Metis people are a thriving community that has survived hardship and betrayal since its inception hundreds of years ago. The injustices of the past have left their mark, but just as in the past, the spirit of the people will enable them to prevail against difficult odds until they finally receive their due.

Bibliography

1) Adams, Howard. Prison Of Grass, (Saskatoon: Fifth house Publishers, 1975) 2) Corrigan, Samuel.
The Struggle For Recognition, (Winnipeg: Pemican Publications, 412 McGregor St., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 1991) 3) Daniels, Harry W.
We Are The New Nation, (Ottawa: Native Council Of Canada, Ontario, K 1 P 5 L 6, 1979) 4) Eccles, W.
J. Essays On New France, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987) 5) Lussier, Antoine S.
The Other Natives, (Winnipeg: Manitoba Metis Federation Press, 300-275 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R 3 B 2 B 3, 1975) 6) MacEWAN, Grant.
Metis Makers Of History, Saskatoon: Western Prarie Books, Saskatchewan, 1981) 7) Magnet, Elizabeth.
Hold High Your Heads, (Winnipeg: Pemican Publications, 412 McGregor St., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 1992) 8) Sealey Bruce D.
The Metis: Canada's Forgotten People, (Winnipeg: Manitoba Metis Federation Press, 300-275 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R 3 B 2 B 3, 1975).