Unit Overview 

Big Ideas: 
  1. Identify the key factors that led to the Red River and Northwest Rebellions. 
  2. How were the Aboriginal peoples treated?  (using the Northwest as an example) 
  3. Compare the two major fur trading companies.  Also evaluate their interactions with the Aboriginal peoples as stakeholders in the fur trade. 
  4. Decide on the question “Was Riel a Hero or a Traitor?”  Also decide on criteria for “hero” and “traitor” – what are the characteristics of each?
Part 1

Chapter 4: The Northwest to 1870, pages 124-163

Why study the Northwest in detail?
“The Red River Settlement, as it came to be known, was a microcosm of modern-day Canada --a small cultural mosaic, long before multiculturalism became official.”  

*Microcosm= a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger. 


Fur Trading & Life in the Northwest  1800-1870

  • Life in the Northwest  
  • Economy of fur trading 
  • Impact of the Fur Trade 
  • Comparing HBC & NWC 
  • The Red River Colony  
  • Battle of Seven Oaks 
  • HBC & NWC Merger 
  • Changes in the Red River 
  • Red River Rebellion 

Part 2
Louis Riel Trial Package  (Biographical Approach) 
Supplementary readings from Chapter 5 


Why do we consider Louis Riel's story a significant part of Canadian history? 

A Hero?  A Traitor?  Insane?  Martyr?  

The issue of what historians call “revisionism”  
*Revisionism = the passing of time can sometimes revise the meaning of events, or change someone’s reputation for better or worse. 


Northwest Rebellion of 1885 
  • The key events of the Northwest Rebellion 
  • Government treatment of Aboriginal peoples 
  • Return of Louis Riel 
  • People associated with Louis Riel 
  • Battles of Duck Lake, Fish Creek, and Batoche 
  • Trial and execution of Louis Riel

Life in the Northwest Word Wall  (36 words) 

Instructions: 

Use Chapter 4 in the textbook to locate the words.  Search for multiple uses of it and collect information until you feel like you can write down a definition & provide its significance.  It would also be helpful to note which pages included the most information on your word so you can return to it at a later date.  Be prepared to link your word to others found by your classmates, and explain its relationship.  

  • I strongly suggest you write down these words and take photos/notes of their details & add on to them throughout the unit. 
Group #1:  

  1. Louis Riel
  2. Beavers
  3. Red River Valley & Settlement
  4. Thomas Scott
  5. Frances Simpson
  6. Colonel Wolseley
  7. Country Born
Group #4: 

  1. NWC
  2. Smallpox
  3. List of Rights
  4. Battle of Seven Oaks
  5. Orange Order
  6. Miles Macdonell
  7. British North America Act
Group #2: 

  1. Metis
  2. Montrealers
  3. Lord Selkirk
  4. Exile
  5. Provisional Government
  6. Cuthbert Grant
  7. Duncan Cameron
Group #5: 

  1. Red River Rebellion
  2. Stay-By-The-Bay
  3. John A. Macdonald
  4. Metis National Committee
  5. Robert Semple
  6. Adam Thom
  7. Dominion
  8. John Schultz
Group #3: 

  1. HBC
  2. Canadian Northwest
  3. Land Surveyors & Speculators
  4. George Simpson
  5. Francois Guillemette
  6. Confederation
  7. Colin Robertson

Websites to access more background information on the Metis & related issues:  (optional)