Land tenure in the Red River Settlement was based on the seigneurial system of New France. Unlike the English (and American) system which employed the square township survey, the French system was based on long narrow river lots. Each lot was up to 3 km deep but had a river frontage of only 8 - 12 chains (150 - 250 m). Along the Red River, this long narrow pattern suited the settlers' need for both access to the river and to their neighbours. It gave each family a share of fertile black river soil for crops such as wheat, oats, barley, and vegetables, as well as space further back for some hay and pasture.

For half a century, from 1821 to 1829, the river lot system served the Métis well. Even the English-controlled Hudson's Bay Company (1) accepted its very practical advantages. But when the Canadian government purchased Rupert's Land (including the Red River Settlement ) from the Company in 1869, an attempt was made to impose the English land holding pattern on the settlement. Reinforcing Métis fears of being swamped by English-speaking settlers from Ontario, this action was one major factor leading to the Métis Resistance of 1869.

Here is a picture of the square survey method favored by the goverment in Ottawa http://www.archives.ca/05/0529/052920/05292028_e.html

Here are the Metis river lots from Batoche, Saskatchewan.