Primary Sources

One of the most interesting things about discovering history is being able to read what happened written by someone who was actually there at the time. Below are some primary source documents that give us some insights into what actually happened during the North West Rebellion.

Treaty 6 - here is the text of the treaty which affected the Saskatchewan Indians including Big Bear and Poundmaker

Reminiscences of William J. Carter of Edmonton, Who Participated in the Fighting During These Stirring Days --- Tells of Causes Leading to Rebellion in Graphic Manner and of the Fighting Which Took Place. (Warning - some gruesome descriptions in here)

Petitions

St. Laurent 1878 This petition asks that the goverment in Ottawa appoint Metis members to the North West council, as well as requesting schools and land titles.

St. Antoine de Padoue 1882 This petition deals with matters of land title, as well as the long narrow lots

Settler's Union petition 1883

St. Louis de Langevin 1883

St. Laurent 1884

Letters

NWMP Correspondence This excerpt was an example of the NWMP's warnings about Metis and Indian unrest.

Letter to English Half-breeds This letter asks the English Half-breeds to join with the Metis in supporting their call to arms.

Macdonald memorandum Macdonald tries to remedy one of the many grievances homesteaders in the North-West had with the system of land distribution

Isbister letter James Isbister discusses Lawrence Clarke's involvement in starting the North West Rebellion.

CPR Dr. Andrew Porter discusses why it was a bad thing that the railroad was moved south.

Meeting Minutes

Settler's Union Discussion of the need for the formation of a Settler's Union

Farmers’ Protective and Co-operative Union While the settlers around Prince Albert were forming a union to protect their interests, the Manitoba farmers were also agitating for their rights. They were upset over the CPR monopoly, high freight rates and the tariffs which made the cost of farm machinery so high.

Meetings of the English Halfbreeds at St. Catherines and Lindsay School These meetings reiterate that the English Half-breeds are supportive of the Metis and their concerns but will not take up arms against the goverment.

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Newspaper Articles (in chronological order)

Chief Beardy warns Fr. Andre to leave Duck Lake 1879

The Indian Question 1879

Clarke chairs meeting in Prince Albert 1880

Our Wants and Wishes 1882

Editorial: the North West wants provincial status 1882

Settlers' land claims still at issue 1882

Ottawa ignores grievances of the North West 1883

Farm instructor Craig is struck with an axe 1884

Herald disputes the Metis claims 1884

Riel addresses public meeting in Prince Albert 1884

Provincial status is needed 1884

Editorial on Big Bear 1885

March ‘85 Bill of Rights 1885

Riel's manifesto 1885

History of the North West Rebellion 1885

Other Original Documents

Self Government for the Territories - a news article from 1886 http://library.usask.ca/sni/stories/pol1.html

Title: Too Much Partyism
Notes: This article alleges that a focus on party politics has caused governments to ignore the genuine grievances of settlers, Métis and Indians in the Northwest Territories.
Journal: The Week, v. 2, no. 25, 21 May 1885, p. 390. http://library.usask.ca/northwest/db/html_docs/wk05_21b.html

Title: Fair Play for French Canadians
Notes: Ross examines the impact of the Northwest Resistance and Louis Riel's execution on French-/English-Canadian relations. Ross blames the growing tensions on journalists for characterizing an entire nation by the actions of a few extremists and the unwillingness of both the French and English to abandon their prejudices and beliefs.
Journal: The Week, v. 2, no. 30, 25 June 1885, pp. 469-70. http://library.usask.ca/northwest/db/html_docs/wk06_25.html

Title: The Riel Outbreak
Notes: C. briefly examines the relationship between the federal government and the Métis and Native people during the 1870s and 1880s. He criticizes government officials in the territories for failing to deal with the legitimate grievances and plight of the Métis and Indians in the region.
Journal: The Week, v. 2, no. 20, 16 April 1885, pp.309-310. http://library.usask.ca/northwest/db/html_docs/wk04_16.html

Author: Jackson, Thomas Wesley
Title: The Views of a leading Conservative in the North-west on the late rebellion.
Published: [Qu'Appelle, Sask.? : s.n., 1886?]
Attributed to Thomas W. Jackson.
Jackson condemns the Conservative government, including John A. MacDonald and Hayter Reed and Edgar Dewdney as officials of Indian Affairs, for their treatment of the Indians. He maintains that the people were starving and desperate and official indifference to their plight forced them into rebellion. http://library.usask.ca/northwest/db/html_docs/j_a_mac.html

Sir John A Macdonald's speech to parliament concerning the Riel Rebellion http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/2/4/h4-4090-e.html

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