HOW ST-LOUIS WAS AFFECTED BY THE REBELLION (58 ENG -- 57 fran)

     HOW  ST-LOUIS  WAS AFFECTED BY THE REBELLION

   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      "Half-breed rebellion liable to break out at any moment. Troops musy be largely reinforced. If Half-breeds rise, Indians will join them."

     The message, sent out March 1885, by Superintendent Crozier at Carlton to Commissioner  Irvine, at Regina headquarters. was fosrwarded to the Canadian Government. It so alarmed that legislative body that they ordered Irvine to take all available men from Regina to assist Crozier. Yet Crozier's message was no surprise. For more than eight months the Superintendent, from his position at Battleford as officer commanding the police posts along the North Saskatchewan River, had been warning the Government of the Métis' unrest.

     Government surveyors were re-mapping the land in squaresections and quarter-sections. Rather than negotiate with the Métis. They tried to settle the dispute, merely by establishing a police post at Fort Carlton, and increasing to two hundred the strenght of Carlton Northern Mountedf Police, distributing these police among forces in Prince Albert, Battleford and Fort Pitt.

   Meanwhile,  Louis Riel, returned from exile in the United States, was orgamizing the second rebellion of his career. Riel's first public meeting took place earlyh in July 1884. with his own people, then on July 11, accompagnied by a number of his friends from the Métis settlement, he attended the gathering of white settlers and English half-breeds at Red Deer Hill.

   "The Prince Albert Times" reported the meeting; "Mr Louis Riel of Montana addressed a public meeting, last Friday, of Métis and white settlers at LindsaySchool house, Red Deer Hill, on the various difficulties they labor under in thiis country. The meeting was presided by Mr. Spence, who introduced the speaker. Mr. Riel who spoke French and English, dwelt at lenght on the subject, and was followed by several gentlemen, who condemned the administration of the Governement in the country. Local committee were appointed for each district todraw up a list of grievances, which are to be embodied in a general petition to besent to the Dominion House of Commons, asking for redress. A meeting isto be held in the PrestonHall by 2.30 p.m. when Mr. Riel is expected to be present. William Jackson of P.A. was the ecretary of the Lindsay meeting. Also present were the Revertend E.K. Matheson and the Reverend J.K. Pritchard."

  Th petition containing the grievances of fthe various elements in the areas was culmitted to Ottawa on December 16, 1884. The Government failed to take any immediate steps even though the mounting agitation continued to be brought to its attention.

  There may have been excuses for Sit. John A. Macdonald in 1868, there could be none in 1885. For the problen which faced the Prime Minister was the same one which had faced him earlier; the problem of conflicting cultures, of reconciling a small primitive population with a new complex civilization. But Mac donald had other things upon his mind. He was building the Canadian Pacific Railway, and lacking all sympathy, he failed to allay the fears and suspicions of the Métis, that they would lose their rights as the original holders of the land.

    To add to the bewilderment of the native people came to subtle suggestions of these white settlers, who, beggared by early frost, poor crops and low prices for grain, were prepared to use the M/tis grievances as a means of belabobring an apparently indifferent government. Thus it was that the settlers of the North Saskatchewan , mixed blodd and white, English and French-speaking joined together to invite Louis Riel to take charge of their campaign for the redress of western grievances.

  The settlers of the Saint Louis Settlement were moved to Batoche the scene of the battle, by rebel soldiers. There the settlers remained for about two months. The men were forced to fight which the womenfolk and children made bullets.

   The residents of Saint Louis today (1980)  had parents who vividly remembered the shooting and fighting. A few even knew the rebel leader, Louis Riel himself. Mr. Frec Boucher, Sr. knew the man personally and so did Joseph Boucher, Antoine Dubreuil and Mrs. Virginie McDougall. When the fighting subsided, the settlers were allowed to return to their respective homes.

  The uprising was over as fas as the settlers were concerned. But for those who had seen a dear one struck by the English bullets, it had been a great tragedy. Isidore Boyer had lost his life in the conflict. His body was burind in Batoche. The people were granted what they had fought for, their land titles. Butbitterness and distrusts for the government remained in their hears as a result of this sad state of affairs, which could have beenavoided so easily with a little bit of thoughfulness on the part of those in authority.

ref: History of Saint-Louis and surrounding areas - END  pages 13-14
      I fail to understand why spent $4 Millions for John A. Macdonald 's 200 birthday party. Maybe a good part of  this money is for the coming election !!!!. It would have been better spent for school texts where are students could learn about the history of their country.  mbc