Question

Explain why the metis were upset with the government surveyors

Answer 1

The Métis were discontent with government surveyors because their land and cultural rights were threatened by the Dominion's expansion. Leader Louis Riel formed a government to protect Métis interests, leading to the Manitoba Act and the grant of 200,000 hectares to the Métis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Reasons for Métis Discontent with Government Surveyors

The Métis were upset with the government surveyors because they feared the loss of their land and culture. The government impulsively initiated surveys of Rupert's Land with the intention to incorporate it into the Dominion of Canada, but without adequately addressing Métis concerns. The largely French-speaking and Roman Catholic Métis were worried about the Dominion's English-speaking Protestant majority's disregard for their rights. Louis Riel emerged as a leader, forming a provisional government to assert the Métis' demands, which included land rights and the preservation of French-language education. After confrontations, the Canadian government eventually conceded, forming the new province of Manitoba and granting the Métis 200,000 hectares of land.

The historical context of the discontent also includes ongoing tensions regarding language rights and equal treatment, highlighted by subsequent events like the 1917 election, where issues such as conscription caused significant civil unrest and reinforced feelings of marginalization among French Canadians.

Answer 2

The Métis were upset with the government surveyors for a number of reasons. One of the main issues was that the surveyors were often sent to the region without consulting with local Indigenous communities or the Métis people who lived there. This led to disputes over land ownership and the use of natural resources, as the surveyors often failed to take into account the traditional land use practices of the Métis and other Indigenous groups. Additionally, the surveyors were often seen as representatives of a colonial government that was seeking to exert greater control over the region, which further fueled tensions between the Métis and the government. The resulting conflicts led to a number of uprisings and rebellions, including the Red River Rebellion of 1869-70, which was led by Métis leader Louis Riel.