During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Northwest is largely occupied by the First Nations and Metis. The Hudson’s Bay Company’s presence is immense since the late 1600s, when they are granted a monopoly over the area called Rupert’s Land after the charter is granted. When the North West Company is founded in 1778 following the French (La Verendrye’s) expansion to the west, the HBC are confronted with a small but powerful rival. While the Hudson Bay Company, British owned, set up trading forts and expand their numbers, the NWC, run by the Metis and the French not only set up forts, but approached the First Nations and other costumers with their trades as voyageurs. Their particular ways of trade proved to be efficient compared to the HBC’s forts: “The company’s blend of Scottish and French cultures kept it distinct from the more conservative, cautious HBC” (McGraw Hill). A major event which resulted from the companies’ rivalry is the Battle of Seven Oaks, where violence is evoked by a group of Metis and the NWC led by Cuthbert Grant. Following their merger in 1821, issued by the Crown due to their consistent rivalry and lack of incentive to get along, the British were back in supreme power over the French amidst the NWC’s continued dominance in trade.
The Metis culture originated from the French fur trade and played a vital role in creating stronger trading relationships between the two distinct cultures. Their skills as voyageurs and hunters proved to be helpful in the fur trade.
Fur trade is a huge aspect of the North West, and settlers arrive from Scotland in the 1800s along with Lord Selkirk. The fur trade competition, the growing Red River settlement, along with the potential of American expansion brings the Northwest into the British’ attention. A growing European population after the fur trade expansion brings diseases such as smallpox and influenza, and a lack of food for the First Nations and Metis people. Miles Macdonell leads Scottish men has a new governor of the colony of Red River, and soon issues the Pemmican Proclamation, restricting the esxport of food from the area. This brings uprising from the Metis population who make a living by selling pemmican to traders.
Chief Peguis and Lord Selkirk begin a respected relationship in the Red River. Selkirk wanted help from the First Nations people, and as the most powerful chief in the Red River, Peguis is presented with the Selkirk Treaty in1817. This treaty essentially surrendered Aboriginal land to British claims.
Photo by Louis Riel : A comic-strip biography by Chester Brown
Red River 