Home >> The Beginnings >> Political Life >> Provisional Government (1869-1870)

Page 1 | 2

In order to unite the community together for a common cause, Riel called a convention of twelve English-speaking and twelve French-speaking parish representatives who met on the 16th of November to discuss possibilities. Riel proposed that they form a provisional government to replace the HBC’s administration.

Meanwhile, McDougall was still waiting south of the line. He believed that if he crossed the border before 1st of December and proclaimed it, the transfer would be valid. He believed that the HBC government had expired, and that he was free to commence his role as Governor. He crossed the border on the night of the 30th of November and read the Proclamation, as it turned out he was wrong. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, who had learned of the resistance and of McDougall stuck below the border, had wired London to postpone the transfer, on the grounds that Canada was entitled to peaceable possession.

When the convention of twenty-four received McDougall’s Proclamation, they believed it to be valid. They had also heard a list of rights drawn up by the French members, which seemed to be a reasonable declaration. Because they viewed the McDougall Proclamation as legitimate, the English wished to allow him in and permit him to represent the community. Riel would not allow this. He was aware of McDougall’s link to the Canadian Party and was fearful that he would destroy his negotiating stance. The delegates could not come to an agreement, and the convention dissolved. Louis Riel went forward with his French Métis supporters.

When news of McDougall’s Proclamation reached the Red River community, they moved to the brink of armed conflict. The Canadian party moved to the area around Lower Fort Garry, which was just as defensible as Upper Fort Garry. Armed deadlock would have resulted if the Canadian troops had not left their food supply in Schultz’s house within gunshot of Riel’s troops. The pork was guarded by Schultz and fifty men, and it was enough to feed the Canadian loyalists for the winter. Two cannons brought over and aimed at Schultz's house on the 7th of December forced the Orangemen's surrender. Riel and the Métis forced the surrender of the house, the pork and the garrison.

The day after the victory over the Canadian Party, Louis Riel made his "Declaration of the People of Rupert's Land and the North-West". In it, he proclaimed the establishment of a provisional government and that this government was to be the only lawful and respected authority in the region. He also stated his willingness to negotiate terms with the Canadian government. The written declaration was "an assertion of the right of the Métis to negotiate the terms on which Canadian authority could be established in the North-West."¹

[Top] [Back]