The Riel Rebellion was one showcase of the tension between the Canadian Government and the Indigenous people. Fought in 1885, this conflict was as a result of the rising white population and a decline of food within the area of northern Saskatchewan. In addition, the Métis people felt that with the Canadian government moving more and more into the Indigenous land, that their rights were not being respected.
The Indigenous people also had lost jobs such as Fur trading as the bison was quickly disappearing, and they were no longer carriers for the Hudson Bay company. As a result of their unhappiness, Louis Riel was brought in to command the Métis people and attack the government of Canada. From March 26th, 1885, to May 12th of 1885 hundreds of people lost their lives in wars fought in present day Saskatchewan.
That conflict had put a stain on the relationship between the government of Canada and the Indigenous population as after the Riel Rebellion was over, 9 Indigenous fighters had been executed including Louis Riel. This conflict showed the control that the government of Canada had over the Indigenous population and that they were no longer in control of their own land. The members of the Indigenous communities that were the most outspoken about their disliking of the Canadian government were jailed and it took decades to overcome the sheer loss of the Riel Rebellion.
Battle of Fish Creek by lithographic artist Fred W. Curzon, 1885.
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