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In 1816 the conflict became violent. HBC men seized an NWC fort just as pemmican supplies were being moved. A chance meeting at Seven Oaks resulted in the death of 20 colonists including the governor, Robert Semple. The Metis, who were far more skilled at this kind of warfare, lost one man. The other colonists fled. Selkirk himself arrived in 1817. He brought soldiers and reinforcements and distributed land.

The population of the settlement grew slowly and eventually consisted largely of Métis, they quickly outnumbered the original Scottish settlers. There was also a group of retired fur traders who came to live in Red River rather than go back to Europe.

After Lord Selkirk died in 1820, the HBC took over the running of the settlement. In 1836, the colony was returned to the HBC, who spent a good deal of money trying to make the settlement economically useful. The HBC tried to control all trading in the region, but independent merchants could not be stopped. The issue was settled in 1849 when a Métis trader named Guillaume Sayer was brought to trial, charged with illegal fur trading. He was convicted but was released without punishment; from then on the fur trade was open to anyone.

As ties with the United States increased, people in traders in Canada began to fear that Red River would be lost to them. Once a unified Canada was created in 1867, steps were taken to absorb the Red River Colony. The inhabitants of the colony felt left out of these arrangements and they resisted the new regime. The Red River Rebellion broke out in 1869. Once these issues were resolved, the HBC turned over the colony, and all of Rupert's Land, to Canada in 1870. Red River became part of the new province of Manitoba.

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Life at Red River

Western Settlements

Buffalo Hunting

Agriculture

Fishing

Métis Traders