A Northwest Rebellion Timeline

In 1876 the Indian Act was introduced. After all seven treaties had been signed and all the land had been surveyed for European settlement, the Indian Act was passed. The two main changes that heavily affected the First Nations that were added with the Indian Act were as follows. The first was that all First Nations must live on reserves, which was small plots of land designated for the First Nations only. The second was that all First Nations children must attend residential schools. Residential schools were boarding schools that were used to try to eliminate the First Nations culture and the children were only permitted to visit home a couple times a year.
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On March 24th, the South Branch Métis held a meeting to discuss grievances. The representatives agreed the invite Louis Riel back to act as their political advisor and leader. At a joint meeting, the South Branch Métis and English half-breeds pass resolutions to specify grievances and officially adopt a motion to see Louis Riel's assistance. On May 18th, the Métis delegation leaves Batoche, heading to Montana to seek out Louis Riel. The Métis delegation arrived in St. Peter's Mission, Montana, on July 4th, and by July 5th, they had successfully convinced Riel to return to Saskatchewan.
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Sir John A. Macdonald had Louis Riel charged and tried on charges of treason. Riel's trial took place in Regina with a jury comprised completely of English and Scottish Protestants. The trial was supposed to occur in Winnipeg, but the jury there was too sympathetic towards the Métis and their cause and Macdonald was afraid he wouldn't get the conviction he was wanting. In the end, the jury found Riel guilty of treason but asked the court for mercy in the sentencing. Unfortunately, the judge ignored the plea for mercy and sentenced Riel to death.
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Louis Riel was executed by being hung. His execution occurred that the Mounted Police Barracks in Regina. Riel was hung after being found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death in July. Louis Riel's death was a huge loss to all of the people he fought for. His death marked the end of the cause he fought so hard for.
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In the spring of 1874, a group of Assiniboin were attacked by whisky traders in Cypress Hill. During this attack, the American whisky traders managed to take the lives of at least thirty Assiniboin Natives. The whisky traders were from small, independent companies and traded strong, cheap liquor to the Natives in return for furs and buffalo robes. This kind of trading was one of the main reasons the government created North-West Mounted police. Because of the alcoholism, malnutrition, disease and death that this kind of trading was doing to the Natives.
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The Battle of Duck Lake was an infantry skirmish only two and a half kilometers outside of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. The battle occurred between the Canadian government's RCMP forces and the newly established Provisional Government of Saskatchewan Métis militia. This skirmish lasted only approximately thirty minutes. After this short time, Superintendent Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier of the RCMP, whose forces had endured rapid fire with twelve killed and eleven wounded, called for a general retreat. This battle was only a small success for the Métis, but it helped them raise their hopes and helped get more supporters for their cause.
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The Frog Lake Massacre occurred on April 2nd, 1885. In this massacre, Wandering Spirit, War Chief of Big Bear's band, and members of Mistahimaskwa's Cree nation attacked Frog Lake in the North-West Territories (now in Alberta). At this location they killed nine settlers, Thomas Quinn an Indian agent, two Catholic priests, five other whites, and a Métis were ruthlessly murdered. Because of the large number of deaths, for seemingly no reason, this event became known as the Frog Lake Massacre.
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On April 15, 1885, 200 Cree warriors attacked Fort Pitt. The group of warriors intercepted a police scouting party, they killed on constable, wounded another, and captured a third one. The group of Cree warriors who surrounded Fort Pitt was Mistahimaskwa's band. The fort was surrounded and outnumbered, the war commander Francis Dickens agreed to negotiate with the Cree attackers. The two groups negotiate the evacuation of the fort by the North West Mounted Police. Big Bear, leader of the Cree warriors, released the two police officers but kept the townspeople as hostages and the continued to destroy the fort. Six days later, after escaping, Inspector Dickens and his men reached the safety of Battleford.
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150 Métis, under the leadership of Gabriel Dumont, ambushed General Middleton's column at Fish creek. The Métis surrender when their ammunition ran out. General Middleton had 10 men killed, over 40 others wounded, and almost died himself. Some of the men found a small boat and attempted to get across to the other side of the creek, but before the first group of soldiers could cross the battle was over. General Middleton considered the Battle of Fish Creek a victory and him and his men waited at Fish Creek for re-enforcement.
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Colonel Otter's column attacked Poundmaker's camp at Cut Knife Hill. After seven long hours of open fire, Colonel Otter's force was injured severely at Cut Knife Hill by the Cree's and is forced to withdraw back to safety. Colonel Otter took his troops back to Battlefort to heal. Poundmaker stepped in and prevented the Cree from attacking the troops as they retreated. Poundmaker said that to defend themselves, their wives and children, was commendable, but he did not approve or want to take the offensive side and attack the other group first.
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