10.1:  Getting the West Ready fo Settlement

Student Notes

 Trying to avoid what happened in the US, the Canadian wanted to continue to negotiate through treaties with the First Nations.  The Americans had a large loss of lives and a huge cost associated with the forced take over of the First Nations land in the Western frontier.  

How does the choice to negotiate with the First Nations reflect on differences between the Canadian and American identity?

The treaties system began in 1871, when the negotiations between the First Nations began.  Using a numerical system , the treaties are numbered in order in which they were concluded.

Sharing Versus Owning the Land

     The idea of ownership was something brought over by the Europeans.  Canada thought they "owned" the land when they negotiated the treaties.  There is no word used to express "owning" in many First Nations language.  

Oral Versus Written History

      Business runs by recording all negotiations as a legal document.  This is how government works, as well.  For First Nations, everything was done by oral history vs written history.  This led to difficulties when the written records of the treaties did not contain all the promises, yet the First Nations oral history had recorded it.  

     To help their people adapt to change, the First Nations agreed to negotiate the treaties, with hopes their culture would survive.  

     Believing the British way was superior, the government forced assimilation on their aboriginal people.  The Canadian government did not think the First Nations culture would survive because the government believed the aboriginal would see the flaw in their own form of government and would then give up their own culture for that of Britain.  

Residential Schools and Assimilation

To meet the promises addressed in the treaties, the government established residential schools across the country.  

How were the residential schools used to assimilate the children? 

What are the possible ramifications of this form of education?

What other country chose to educate the children in order to "brainwash" them about cultural diversities?

With the railway open and the treaties signed, Canada was ready for change.  

Read page 315 and respond to questions 1 - 3 at the bottom of the page.  

After a massacre of thirty-six Nakoda people near Cypress Hills in 1873, the Canadian government established the North West Mounted Police.  

     Over the years prior to this, American traders were moving into claimed Canadian territory.  Establishing headquarters near Lethbridge, called Fort Whoop-Up, they offered repeating rifles and alcohol in exchange for buffalo robes and furs.  

Read through page 318 and find out what Lieutenant Colonel Robertson - Ross found when he investigated the situation.  Record your findings.  

After a huge political scandal, John A. Macdonald lost power.  One business man had given $350,000 to Macdonald's Conservative Party, who happened to be the same man who won the contract to build the railway to BC.  

What do you think is wrong with this?

After returning with force, Macdonald won back his position as Prime Minister by creating the National Policy:

1. Promote Canadian Industry

   • A tax was charge on all American goods sold in Canada

2. Finish the National Railway

   • Establish the railway to join BC to eastern Canada

   • Bring settlers to the west to bring crops to the east.

3. Settle the West

   • Encourage European settlers to come to Canada for free land.  This land would grow grain for Canadian industry.  New settlements would be build close to the railway line.  

     By 1885, nearly fifteen thousand Chinese workers had been hired to help build the railway.  Underpaid compared to the other workers, the Chinese tried to save money to send to their families so they could move to Canada.  

     Once the CPR was completed, the Chinese then helped work to establish lumber and cannery industry, but found discrimination existed where ever they went.  

Read what Prime Minister Macdonald says about these foreigners, on page 321. (red print)

     In 1885 a law was passed restricting Chinese immigration to Canada.  A "head-tax" was charged to any Chinese person entering Canada, of $50.  Even with this fee, more than eighty-two thousand Chinese people immigrated to Canada between 1885 and 1920.