organization and settlement was due very largely to the
splendid body of men composing this force. 
239. Treaties with the Indians.-The government 
of Canada may well be proud of its policy in dealing with
the Indians of the North-West. In connection with the 
lands claimed by the Indians care had been taken to deal
fairly with the original owners. Between 1871 and 1877,
seven treaties in all were entered into with the various
Indian tribes for the surrender of their lands. Later, 
two other treaties covering lands in the North-West were 
signed, the last as late as 1906. The terms of all these 
treaties are very much alike. Provision is made for 
reserves on which the Indian can live. He is 
allowed to hunt over unoccupied land and to kill game 
for his own use. Each Indian receives an annual payment 
from the Dominion government, the sums varying from five 
dollars to twenty-five dollars a head Arrangements are 
also made for supplying agricultural implements and for 
schools on the reserves. Under the care of the government 
the Indians are gradually becoming familiar with 
civilization and taking their place in the new North-West. 
240. The Saskatchewan Rebellion, 1885.-The advent
of the railway gave promise of peaceful and rapid progress,
when suddenly a second rebellion broke out.  After the 
Red River rebellion two hundred and forty acres of land 
were granted to each half-breed. As the province began 
to fill with settlers many, in spite of this liberal grant,
withdrew westwards, and settled on the banks of the 
Saskatchewan -With the formation of the North-West 
Territories, the hated civilization began to creep in 
upon them once more The rapid disappearance of the buffalo,
upon which Indians -and half-breeds alike depended for 
a living, threatened a general famine. The natural 
unrest of the halfbreeds was increased by a fear that 
their lands, of which they had received no title deeds 
from the crown, would be snatched away by speculators. 
Great dissatisfaction was felt, too, with the government's
method of surveying the land, which was quite different 
from the old French plan of having all the farms fronting
on the river. If anything further were needed to provoke
a rebellion, it was the presence of Louis Riel, who, 
returning from exile, suddenly appeared upon the scene 
to champion once more the cause of the restless half-breeds.
At first Riel was moderate, and there was every reason 
to expect that the government would shortly remove all 
causes of discontent. An unfortunate encounter of armed 
men, however, hurried on the rebellion. Near Duck Lake 
a force of Mounted Police and Prince Albert volunteers,
while attempting to bring in an outlying store of supplies,
was met by a band of rebels and driven back with a loss 
of twelve men killed. 



Image:
THE INTERIOR OF A HUDSON'S BAY TRADING POST, SHOWING
MOUNTED POLICE, INDIANS AND MÉTIS.

MACMILLAN'S WESTERN CANADA SERIES

The West 1763-1812, The West 1812-1841, Western Canada,
1870-1920, The Prairie Provinces and The Rise of the
North West, North West, Prairies, prairie provinces,
 Western provinces, Sask Gen Web, Saskatchewan Gen Web

Canada history, Ca, Can, Canada, Canada by A.G. Bradley, 
A.G. Bradley, Canadian History, The Story of the Canadian 
People, Duncan, The Western Canada Series, David Duncan

Canada history, Ca, Can, Canada, Canada by A.G. Bradley, 
A.G. Bradley, Canadian History, The Story of the Canadian 
People, Duncan, The Western Canada Series, David Duncan

Visitor # 285
Web Master: Julia Adamson,
for Sask Gen Web Project
Web Page title: CP272-273.html
URL: /~cansk/history/CP272-273.html
Web Publish Date: © Wednesday, 14-Apr-2004 14:06:55 MDT
Saskatchewan History Comments
View comments.....Add comments.

Guestbook
Genealogy Queries

The West 1763-1812, The West 1812-1841, Western Canada,
1870-1920, The Prairie Provinces and The Rise of the
North West, North West, Prairies, prairie provinces,
 Western provinces, Sask Gen Web, Saskatchewan Gen Web