The incorporation of Manitoba into the newly formed Dominion of Canada and the subsequent changes to the Manitoba Act, disallowing Metis people the right to land, sent many of the Metis further into the Northwest. Many of them settled along the Saskatchewan River at places such as Lac la Biche, Qu'Appelle, Edmonton, Prince Albert, Duck Lake and Batoche. Here, they lived on farms on long narrow river lots, hunted buffalo, made pemmican, and worked as freighters on York boats and overland expeditions.

The 1870s and 1880s were a difficult time for all Aboriginal People in North America. It was a period wherein the United States was moving Tribes to reserves and bounties abounded for the killing off of the North American Indian. As well, with the dwindling fur trade, a large market for buffalo hides and meat and the actual planned decimation of the buffalo by both the Canadian and American governments was impacting on the Aboriginal people. Their way of life was being marginalized and their food supply (the buffalo) was almost gone. Modern day movies have shown this systematic killing of the buffalo, in particular "Dances with Wolves". There was tremendous distress throughout the Northwest of Canada and the plains of the U.S.A. This was the period of time when both countries were trying to coerce the Aboriginals out of their land and resources. This practice has now been shown to be a genocidal tactic.

Once again the growing Canada began to encroach on the Metis people. Canada sent surveyors into the diminished Northwest, who began surveying Metis land in square sections, disregarding the long river lots already in use. The Metis were also told they had no legal right to occupy the land they lived on. Fearing for their homes and once again, their historic method of dividing land in long riverfront lots, the Metis asked the Hon. Lawrence Clarke, a one-time minister of the North-West Territories, to take petitions to Ottawa. Asking him to make representations to the Government on their behalf to be heard and respected as the rightful owners of the land. The Metis in Saskachewan were more than familiar with the tactics of Canada in their dealings with the Metis in Manitoba and were no longer as trustful of the promises. Non-Aboriginal settlers in Saskatchewan were also in conflict with the government. As well the two major Indian Nations (Poundmaker and Big Bear) were being systematically eliminated through starvation. The promised railway line took a more southerly route than promised, crops were poor, freight rates were high, and high tariffs continued to protect eastern Canadian business interests at the expense of the west.

In 1873, the Metis began banding together to protect their way of life and to regulate the remaining resources on the prairies. A meeting was held in the village of St. Laurent (near Batoche) on December 10th and the Metis democratically elected a governing body. By acclamation, Gabriel Dumont was chosen to be President of this new governing Council and to hold the position for a period of one year. Eight councilors were, also elected; including Gabriel's father (Isidore) and his Uncle Jean. The Council decided to govern the Metis according to rules patterned largely after the old buffalo hunt laws. This governing body was known as the Council of St. Laurent. The Council submitted a number of petitions to the Federal Government requesting title to the lands they held. The first of these petitions was sent in 1873. They continued to be sent for the next 11 years, with no results.

During this time, the NorthWest Mounted Police were being brought into the area. President Dumont and his council became aware of an infraction of the laws they had set down. A group of supposedly "free" buffalo hunters, most of whom were hired and outfitted by the Hudson's Bay Company, set out from the Batoche area ahead of the date set for the beginning of the hunt. For this violation, Gabriel and his men entered their camp and confiscated goods equivalent to a fine imposed for the infraction. The North West Mounted Police were called in to settle the disagreement. Inspector Crozier reported that the "free" buffalo hunters had, in fact, broken a law relating to the customs of the land and that, furthermore, the local Metis self-government was well suited to the area and operated very efficiently. However the arrival of the NWMP made the Council ineffective and powerless.

Gabriel Dumont was a leading member of the Metis community in Saskatchewan. He was often elected as the "Leader of the Hunt" and was seen as a statesman of the area. Gabriel ran a ferry across the Saskatchewan River at Gabriel's Landing; was a merchant, a small-scale farmer, a contractor who worked to organize Metis labour to build roads, mail stations, telegraph lines, and cart-trails. Dumont was a man of action, had the confidence of his men, and was a brilliant organizer and strategist. Dumont later became the military leader of Riel's forces. Stories of his bravery and determination continue to be told to this day. His battle strategies rival those of many past generals of war and are studied to this day. Dumont is remembered as a great Metis leader and businessman. See my page on Gabriel Dumont.

In a petition was drawn up at the meeting and sent to Sir John A. Macdonald on May 6, 1884. Gabriel Dumont and the Metis of St. Antoine de Padoua claimed exemption from onerous homestead duties on the basis of having "held the country as its masters and so often defended it against the Indians at the price of our blood..." The Metis also claimed exemption from the township system of survey which threatened to disrupt their river lots. It was also decided during this meeting that Louis Riel should be asked to return and help alleviate the problems and deal with Ottawa. Three other individuals were selected to go with Gabriel to Montana and beg Louis Riel to return to Canada to once again assist his people with their struggle.

Gabriel Dumont and three other Metis went to St. Peter's Mission in Montana to ask Riel to become the political leader of a Metis movement in Saskatchewan. These four emissaries were sent by a broad-based movement which included many White settlers and the local Aboriginal tribes. The whites were angered by the Canadian Pacific's decision to take the southern route through Regina, instead of the northern route through Prince Albert and Battleford. They were angered by ongoing colonial territorial status, and irritated with the administration of Dominion Lands. The Metis were irritated by delays in the issuance (and therefore redemption) of Metis Scrip, promised under the Manitoba Act, principally caused by a refusal by the Dominion to survey the lots the Metis lived upon. Over the winter of 1885, tension began to mount among the Indian tribes as they fell victim to hunger and disease and the Indian agents did not have the resources necessary to relieve their suffering. The Indians realized that their situation was similar to that of the Metis. It was not surprising that they turned to Riel.

In July 1884, Riel arrived at Tourond's Coulee (Fish Creek) in Saskatchewan. However, this Riel was a different man; he was moody and more and more irritated by small things. He immediately began to hold meetings to unite the community. He was ably aided by William Henry Jackson acting as his secretary. Pierre Parenteau was chosen the first president and Gabriel Dumont was chosen adjutant-general. On behalf of the white settlers, the Indians and the Metis, Riel and Jackson prepared a list of grievances which was sent to Ottawa. (Click to see a map of the area.)

Riel also began to prepare a Bill of Rights. This document was based on Riel's theory that the West had belonged to the Metis and the Natives until 1870, until the Manitoba Act was passed. Riel called this the "Manitoba Treaty" and claimed that it imposed certain duties on the Dominion Government. Since the Dominion government had not lived up to its Treaty obligations, the Treaty was void and title to the West had reverted back to the Metis and the Natives. The groundwork was being laid for Riel to renegotiate the terms for the re-entry of the West into Confederation. Riel made an offer to the Federal Government to leave Canada if the Dominion Government would pay him an "indemnity" for his past services to Canada, and for the injustices done him. Riel also began to lay the groundwork for the revelation of his prophetical role in the West.

Between the time when the idea of the provisional government was proposed and when it was actually set up on March 19, 1885, the Metis received news which greatly alarmed them. Lawrence Clarke arrived back from Ottawa with a response from the government to the Metis' last petition. He told the people that the government was going to give their answer to the Metis' petition with bullets. One hundred of the newly formed NorthWest Mounted Police, under Colonel Irvine, were assigned to move into the Northwest to use force if necessary against the petitioners. Fearing an attack, the Metis began to ready themselves.

As time passed and Riel favored resorting to arms, he lost the support of white settlers and English-speaking Metis. On March 19, 1985, under the leadership of Riel, the Metis formed a second provisional government at Batoche. As in 1869-70, they demanded responsible government, parliamentary representation, local control of public lands as well as confirmation of land titles according to the river lot system of survey. In February 1885, the Dominion Government unequivocally rejected Riel's demand for personal compensation. However, it did announce the formation of a Commission to enumerate the Metis in order to issue Metis scrip and made provisions to allow the Metis to register current claims at Land Registry Offices.

Riel chose to see this as a provocative denial of Metis rights. On March 18, 1885, at the feast of St. Joseph (Riel's chosen Patron Saint), the Metis committed themselves to an armed uprising. The White settlers did not follow and the English Half-Breeds of St.Catherine's and the Ridge voted to remain neutral in the event of armed conflict. The First act of the North-West Rebellion was religious in Nature. Riel seized the Church at Batoche and declared "Rome has fallen" (In the 1870 uprising in Manitoba, the Church had supported Riel; but not in 1885.)

Riel found himself again supported only by the French-speaking Metis and the Indians. He decided to capture Fort Carleton which he considered essential to his operations. He wanted to occupy it without violence. The Metis began by taking hostages, and cutting telegraph lines. On March 26, 1885, actual fighting broke out at Duck Lake. Poundmaker and Big Bear Indian tribes rioted against the Canadian forces in support of the settlement.

Colonel Irvine and his troops had been marching directly to Batoche, but switched and moved onto Prince Albert in order to avoid the superior numbers of the Indians and Metis until he knew their military strength. Before he reached Prince Albert, the police located at the settlement, headed Major Crozier, had created a volunteer force on hearing of the seizure of Stobart Eaton's store at Duck Lake. The town of Prince Albert was placed under military law. It should be noted that Crozier was an officer of considerable efficiency and showed that he possessed the leadership, courage and resource to do things. He afterwards proceeded to the Indian Territory in Oklahoma to organize a force similar to that of the NWMP for the United States. He earned golden opinions from all who had anything to do with his work in that territory.

The battle begins at Duck Lake.