Red River is not just famous for its porridge but for a real rebellion that happened in 1869 in the Canadian Shield, back when it was a territory of the Hudson's Bay Company called Rupert's Land. The company's lease was about to run out and the native French Catholic population, led by Louis Riel, called the Metis, wanted to protect themselves from being overrun by white English Orangemen. In 1869, Fort Gary, the main outpost of the Hudson's Bay Company was seized without a fight by an armed force organized by Riel, in order to form a provisional government that could negotiate a settlement for the settlement of Metis land. Fifty-six Orangemen had to be taken prisoner. When the news reached the Canadian prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, he recommended firm suppression of the half breeds until they could be outpopulated by Easterners. One of the prisoners, Thomas Scott, taunted his Metis captors from his cell, calling them half breeds to their faces. The next day he was shot. The execution took place while Riel's representative, Father Noel Ritchaud, was negotiating the terms of the Manitoba Act (1870) with parliament. The gunshot woke MacDonald from a deep snooze brought on by Ritchaud's demands for land, French language rights, and a separate school system for Catholics, so that a deal could be concluded.
But MacDonald wanted justice for Scott's death. He sent four hundred troops west and Riel didn't trust them. When the troops arrived at Fort Gary, they each had a cup of cocoa and fell asleep. That night, Riel tiptoed past them and fled to the United States. The troops had to settle for killing another half breed in Riel's place.
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment