LOUIS RIEL

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With its east-west axis of development, Canada was inevitably bound to come into contact with Métis society. The first clash occurred in 1857 when the Dawson-Hind exploration expedition arrived to study the land. The expedition recommended that the Canadian government acquire the arable part of the Company's land. At the same time, an annexationist movement in the United States threatened future occupation of the Territories. Canada could not count on any military action to thwart this movement and the Company did not have any force at its disposal to ward off this threat. The only remaining alternative was annexation of the North-West Territories by Canada. In 1869, a unique opportunity presented itself, for the Hudson's Bay Company agreed to sell this territory to Canada. It was at this point in time that Louis Riel returned to the settlement he had not seen for ten years.

Many changes had taken place in the Settlement since his departure. With the arrival of numerous settlers from Ontario, Fort Garry had become an active commercial centre. For economic and political reasons, these "Canadians" were opposed to the Company's authority, while the Métis were worried about the future under the Canadian government. They were afraid the country would be invaded by people from Ontario and that this would create a problem for the Métis, since these newcomers would be English-speaking Protestants, unlike the French-speaking Métis who were Catholic. In addition to the problems of language and religion, they were justifiably afraid of losing their lands, for most of the Métis were squatters or settlers without title.

 

  

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