Rupert’s Land and the North-West Territories

The Métis population around the Red River settlement in Rupert’s Land feared that their rights would not be respected and objected that they had not been properly consulted [see The Red River Rebellion and the Creation of Manitoba, 1869–70]. Their leader was Louis RIEL:

“As tensions mounted among the Métis it was clear that strong leadership was needed. Riel’s experiences during the past ten years had produced a life-style very different from that of the buffalo-hunting Métis, but it was these people he now aspired to lead. The older, more established leaders had had little success and had shown little initiative. Riel – ambitious, well-educated, bilingual, young and energetic, eloquent, deeply religious, and the bearer of a famous name – was more than willing to provide what the times required.”

For more information on the acquisition of Rupert’s Land and the North-West Territories, consult the biographies in the following lists.