Chronology of Events

In the early 1880s almost everyone living in the Northwest Territories had 
grievances against the Government of Canada. The native people had signed 
treaties which were supposed to compensate them for giving up claim to the 
whole of the territory and agreeing to settle on reserves and learn white-
style agriculture. But the Government was reluctant to live up to its side 
of the bargain and tried to evade its responsibilities. Thus, people who were 
already unhappy at having to give up much of their traditional way of life 
were made more angry and desperate as the promised new way of life failed to 
materialise. 

Although their actions at Red River in 1869/70 had won some major concessions
from Ottawa, many of the half-French, half-native Mtis (pronounced may-TEE) 
had moved farther west and settled in the Saskatchewan Territories. By the 
1880s, settlers from Europe and Eastern North America were moving into the 
Saskatchewan and the Mtis saw their traditional lifestyle threatened again. 

The white settlers in the Territory were also angry and aggrieved. They 
accused the Canadian Government of operating the Territory solely for the 
benefit of Eastern Canadian business to the detriment of local interests. 

By the middle of the decade all parties in the west were holding meetings, 
sending petitions and discussing political tactics for redress of their 
grievances against a government which seemed as uninterested as it was 
remote. 


24 March 1884       South Branch Metis hold a meeting in Batoche to discuss
                    grievances. The thirty representatives vote to invite 
		    Louis Riel back to act as political advisor and leader.
 
6 May 1884          At a joint meeting, the South Branch Metis and English 
		    half-breeds pass several resolutions specifying griev-
                    ances and adopt a motion to seek Louis Riel's assistance.
 
18 May 1884         Metis delegation leaves Batoche for Montana to solicit 
                    Louis Riel's aid.

4-5 June 1884       Metis delegation arrives in St. Peter's Mission, Montana.
                    Riel agrees to return to Saskatchewan.

5 July 1884         Riel arrives at Tourond's Coulee (Fish Creek), North-West
                    Territories.
 
28 July 1884        William H. Jackson issues a manifesto of the 
		    grievances and objectives of the Settlers' Union.
 
16 December 1884    Louis Riel sends a petition to the Secretary of State 
                    outlining Metis grievances and demands.

28 January 1885     John A. MacDonald's cabinet authorizes the creation of a 
		    three-person commission to review and settle Metis and 
                    Half-breed claims in Manitoba and the Northwest 
		    Territories.

5 March 1885        Louis Riel and a group of prominent Metis hold a secret 
		    meeting. They sign an oath to "save our country from a 
		    wicked government by taking up arms if necessary."

18 March 1885       Metis seize control of St. Anthony's Church: they take 
		    hostages and cut the telegraph lines at Clarke's Crossing.

19 March 1885       Mtis form the ministry and the army of the Provisional 
		    Government of Saskatchewan.

21 March 1885       The Provisional Government demands the North-West Mounted
                    Police surrender Fort Carlton.

22 March 1885       English Half-Breeds of St. Catherine's and the Ridge vote 
		    to remain neutral in the event of armed conflict.

22 March 1885       The Winnipeg Militia is ordered to a state of readiness 
		    and Major-General Frederick Dobson Middleton is given 
		    command of the troops.

26 March 1885       Metis force under Gabriel Dumont engage in an unplanned
                    skirmish with Superintendent L.F. Crozier's Mounted 
		    Police and volunteers at Duck Lake. The Police are routed.

27 March 1885       The North-West Mounted Police abandon Fort Carlton 
	       	    (accidentally burning it as they leave) and retreat to 
		    Prince Albert.

28 March 1885       News of Duck Lake hits eastern Canada. The Federal 
		    Government raises a Canadian Militia Force. Within two 
		    weeks, three columns of the Northwest Field Force are in 
		    motion.

29 March 1885       Itka kills farm instructor Payne on the Mosquito reserve.
 
30 March 1885       The 'Siege of Battleford' begins. Pitikwahanapiwiyin 
		    (Poundmaker) arrives at Fort Battleford. The Indian Agent 
		    refuses to meet with him. The combined Battleford bands 
		    loot the town.

31 March 1885       Council of the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan 
		    move the Metis force to Batoche. They construct a 
		    defensive system of trenches and rifle pits around 
		    Batoche.

2 April 1885        The Frog Lake Massacre. Members of Mistahimaskwa's Cree 
		    Nation led by Ayimisis and Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering 
		    Spirit) kill Indian Agent Quinn and eight other whites.

3 April 1885        Cree of the Little Hunter and Blue Quill bands raid 
		    government store house at Saddle Lake (130 km northeast 
		    of Edmonton).

17 April 1885       Fort Pitt is taken by warriors of Mistahimaskwa's band. 
		    Mistahimaskwa negotiates the evacuation of the fort by 
		    the North West Mounted Police. 

24 April 1885       Gabriel Dumont ambushes Middleton's column at Fish Creek.

24 April 1885       Lieutenant-Colonel William Otter relieves the 'siege' of 
		    the Fort Battleford without a battle. The Battleford 
		    bands have left the area and established a camp at 
		    Cut Knife Hill.

26 April 1885       Indians raid HBC post at Lac La Biche, Alberta.
 
2 May 1885          Colonel Otter's column attacks Pitikwahahnapiwiyin's camp
		    at Cut Knife Hill. Otter is forced to retreat to 
		    Battleford. Pitikwahahnapiwiyin prevents Indians from 
		    attacking retreating troops.

9 - 12 May          Battle of Batoche. Middleton decisively defeats the Metis
		    force in a three day battle.

14 May 1885         At Eagle Hills, Battleford Indian bands capture wagon 
		    train carrying supplies for Colonel Otter's column. 
		    Twenty-one teamsters are taken prisoner.

15 May 1885         Louis Riel surrenders and is transported to Regina for 
		    trial.

26 May 1885         Pitikwahanapiwiyn surrenders to General Middleton at Fort
		    Battleford.

28 May 1885         Mistahimaskwa's band and Major General T.B. Strange clash
		    at Frenchman's Butte. 

3 June 1885         Steele's and Mistahimaskwa's forces engage in a skirmish 
		    at Loon Lake.
 
2 July 1885         Mistahimaskwa surrenders to North-West Mounted Police at 
		    Fort Pitt.

6 July 1885         Riel is formally charged with high treason.

20 July - 1 August  Riel is tried and found guilty of treason. Judge Hugh 
		    Richardson sentences Riel to hang 18 September.

24 July 1885        William Henry Jackson is found not guilty by reason of 
		    insanity. Jackson is sent to a lunatic asylum in Manitoba.
 
August 1885         Sir John A. McDonald requests that murder charges be laid
		    against the Indians involved at Frog Lake and in the 
		    killing of Payne.

13 August 1885      Kapeyakwaskonam (One Arrow) tried on the charge of 
		    treason-felony, found guilty and sentenced to three 
		    years imprisonment.

14 August 1885      A number of Metis involved in the rebellion plead guilty 
		    to treason-felony and receive prison sentences ranging 
		    from one to seven years.

17-19 August        Pitikwahanapiwiyin is tried on the charge of treason-
		    felony, found guilty and sentenced to three years 
		    imprisonment.

9 September         The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench rejects Riel's appeal.

11 September 1885   Mistahimaskwa is tried on the charge of treason-felony, 
		    found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

25 September 1885   Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering Spirit) is tried at 
		    Battleford and sentenced to hang.

5 October 1885      Itka and Man Without Blood are tried, found guilty and 
		    sentenced to hang for killing Payne.

10 October 1885     Five Indians are tried in Battleford for involvement at 
		    Frog Lake, are found guilty and sentenced to hang.

22 October          Judicial Committee of the Privy Council rules against 
		    Riel's appeal.

9 November          The Medical commission, created to examine Riel's mental 
		    condition, submits its report to the Prime Minister. The 
		    Commission is divided on question of Riel's sanity. 
		    Cabinet decides to proceed with death penalty.

16 November 1885    Riel is hanged in Regina.

27 November 1885    Kapapamahchakwew and seven other Indians are hanged at 
		    Battleford.