Manitoba Act of 1870 PDF

# Manitoba Act of 1870 ## Background - The land that is now the Province of Manitoba was originally a part of Rupert's land. - The area was settled largely by people from the Red River Colony who were employed in the fur trade. - European settlers married First Nations women, creating the Metis N...

# Manitoba Act of 1870 ## Background - The land that is now the Province of Manitoba was originally a part of Rupert's land. - The area was settled largely by people from the Red River Colony who were employed in the fur trade. - European settlers married First Nations women, creating the Metis Nation who have both First Nations and European ancestry. - Fur trade in the area was controlled by the Hudson's Bay Company until 1868 when Rupert's Land was surrendered to the British Crown, who then deeded it to the newly formed Government of Canada. ## Canada's Expansion The Canadian government wanted to create a country that stretched from sea to sea, but felt this was threatened by settlers from the United States moving into the region. - The Canadian government encouraged British colonists to settle in the West despite the area already being inhabited by First Nations and Metis people. - This immigration policy overlooked the Metis and First Nations communities who traditionally lived on the land based their lives on the buffalo hunt and the fur trade. - New settlers' language, culture and religion was different from the Metis people. ## Red River Resistance - In 1870, there were approximately 10,000 Metis people, but none were represented in the Canadian government. - The poor treatment of the Metis people by the Canadian government led to the Red River Resistance of 1869. - The Metis established a provisional government that protested the transfer of Rupert's Land to Canada without considering their right to the land. - The government ignored the rights of the Metis. ## The Manitoba Act - The Manitoba Act was signed in 1870 by both sides, providing a legal solution to the conflict between the Red River Metis and the British Crown - The Manitoba Act proclaimed Manitoba as the fifth province of Canada and promised protection of the Metis people. - Although the Manitoba Act was beneficial on paper, these promises were never fully kept. ## The Metis Land Grant - Metis people from the Red River were promised 1.4 million acres of land, which would be given to their children born prior to July 15, 1870 (when Rupert's Land was transferred to Canada). - Each Metis child would receive 240 acres of land. - This land grant was meant to support the local Metis people, not European settlers. ## Scrip - The government chose to give the Metis scrip instead of land to support them. - The Metis would be entitled to receive scrip if they gave up their claim to being Indigenous people. - Scrip would grant them either land or money as compensation for giving up their rights, but the government tried to cheat many Metis out of receiving scrip. ## Questions for Consideration - **Who are the Metis Nation?** - **Why did the Government Of Canada want their land?** - **How did the government's immigration policy affect the Metis?** - **What was the Metis' reaction to this policy?** - **What did the government promise the Metis in the Manitoba Act of 1870?** - **What was the reality of this promise?** ## Image Description The document includes a map of Canada with Manitoba highlighted. The map is at the top left corner of an image. The rest of the image contains text explaining historical information about the Manitoba Act.