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Manitoba Metis create a set of laws for their community, the Laws of St. Laurent
The Metis at the community of St.Laurent made a comprehensive set of laws that governed every aspect of communal Metis life,including regulations for sustainable bison hunting.These laws were important for maintaining an orderly and healthy Metis community with shared cultural values and understandings of civil relations.They evolved out of the unwritten laws of the Praire as well the Metis List of Rights.these laws by Canadian interlopers, specifically the areas governing bison hunting. -
with the laws of St. Laurent invalidated by the Canadian courts, bison hunters overhunt the bison, impoverishing First Nations and Metis would relied on the bison for the survival
Magistrate Clarke’s ruling against the enforcers of the Laws of St. Laurent had the side effect of delegitimizing these laws’ powers on the prairie.many bison hunters began unrestricted hunting of the bison and significantly depleted their numbers. This was exacerbated by bison hunters who followed government directions to kill as many bison as possible. -
a Canadian Magistrate arrests and fines some Metis for enforcing the Laws of St. Laurent, increasing tension between the Metis and the English Canadians
Lawrence Clarke, an employee of the Hudson’s Bay Company in Saskatchewan, managed to also have himself appointed magistrate for the area by the Canadian government. He used his position of institutional power to marginalize their rights and concerns. The Metis strictly enforced their laws against over-hunting bison, and punished some Metis hunters for hunting bison out of season. These Metis appealed to Magistrate Clarke, who arrested the Metis who enforced the Laws of St. Laurent -
Canadian government passes the Indian Act without consulting the Metis nor clearly ruling on their status
John A. was the head of this new government.He did not have positive views about the Metis and viewed them as obstacle to Canadian progress. His views were shared by many other Canadians with power. In the same year as confederation, the Canadian government also passed the Indian Act, with severely limited the rights and privileges of First Nations people. Metis had not signed any previous treaties it was unclear at the time how the Metis would be treated in light of the Indian act. -
Louis Riel and William Henry Jackson write the Metis Bill of Rights – the Canadian government rejects it
Metis were having their lands appropriated from them by government survey and redistribution. The government was doing this in order to reap massive profits in order to pay for their expensive railroad project. Worried about losing their lands and livelihoods, the Metis summon Louis Riel out of exile in the US to help them write a Metis Bill of Rights. This Bill of Rights was submitted to the Canadian government. -
The Metis are defeated at Batoche, ending the rebellion
the Metis were finally forced to engage in a pitched battle at Batoche on May 9. General Middleton’s superior forces and equipment allowed him to besiege the Metis. For three days, he bombarded them with cannon and Gatling gun fire. This depleted the supplies of the Metis and after a significant amount of their force had been wounded, they surrendered. Gabriel Dumont escaped to the US but Louis Riel was captured. This marked the end of the North-West Uprising. -
Louis Riel stands trial in Regina where the courts treat him unfairly; he is sentenced to death despite a recommendation for mercy and numerous petitions to the federal government
Fearing a trial in Louis Riel’s home of Manitoba with sympathetic jurors, the Canadian government took Louis Riel to Regina, Saskatchewan instead. Saskatchewan used smaller juries and less-qualified judges. Beyond this, Louis Riel was prevented from cross-examining witnesses or making statements, and even his lawyers were prevented from providing the Metis’ previous petitions into court evidence.There were no French, Metis, or First Nations jurors on the jury. Although the jury recommended mercy -
Louis Riel is hanged
Louis Riel was hanged by the neck until dead, marking the end of the North-West Uprising. The Metis lost all property rights to their traditional lands. Many moved northwest into less populated areas and squatted on public lands. Some moved to the city and concealed their ancestry. The North-West Uprising also had negative repercussions for First Nations bands, which were controlled even more closely by the government following the conflict.By the late 20th century he became a hero. -
The Metis begin the Northwest Uprising after clashing with NWMP near Duck Lake
Metis mobilized under Louis Riel and Gabriel Doumont. They armed themselves and also intercepted supplies for the North West Mounted Police near Fort Carlton. Meanwhile, Lawrence Clarke, who still held a position of power in Saskatchewan, delayed reinforcements and denounced the NWMP commander in order to force the conflict to a head. The small NWMP force rode out to negotiate with the Metis forces but it ended in violence. -
Canadian government mobilizes troops through the railroad but the Metis hold them back until May
Canadians newly implemented railroad to transport a large amount of troops much more quickly than previously could have been accomplished. This had the side effect of justifying the high costs of the railroad to the Canadian public. General Middleton, was apprehensive about First Nations tribes joining on the side of the Metis so he split his force into several groups. This severely delayed his approach and the Metis successfully ambushed Canadian forces throughout April and early May 1885.
