THE SELKIRK SETTLEMENT:
1. _Establishment._--Lord Selkirk, a Scottish philanthropist, and a
shareholder in the Hudson's Bay Co., purchased from the Company
70,000 square miles of land around Red River for Scotch colonies,
1811. About three hundred settlers came within three years. Miles
Macdonell at head of the colony.
2. _Trouble with North-West Company._--
(_a_) Suspicion of N.W. Co. that colony was established by H.B. Co.
to compete for fur trade.
(_b_) Proclamation of Macdonell that food should not be taken out
of settlement. Attack on colony by Metis Indians encouraged by N.W.
Co. Withdrawal of colonists to Lake Winnipeg.
(_c_) Return with reinforcements under Semple. Skirmish at Seven
Oaks, 1816. Semple with twenty others killed.
(_d_) Selkirk's descent upon Fort William. Arrest of several
Nor'Westers. Colony at Red River restored.
(_e_) Nor'Westers acquitted of murder of Semple. Selkirk convicted
and heavily fined for acts of violence. Selkirk withdrew from
Canada in disappointment and disgust.
Note;
Seven Oaks 1816, Red River Rebellion 1869, Riel, NorthWest Resistance 1885.
--Ontario Normal School Manuals: Science of
Education, by Ontario Ministry of Education (Primary source documents / Timeline)
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