History & Geography · Grade 8 · Creating Canada: 1850–1890 · Term 1

The North-West Resistance of 1885: Causes

An examination of the escalating tensions in Saskatchewan leading to the Battle of Batoche and the trial of Louis Riel.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: History: Creating Canada, 1850–1890 - Grade 8

About This Topic

The North-West Resistance of 1885 arose from deep grievances in Saskatchewan among Métis and First Nations peoples against Canadian government policies. Métis communities protested the square lot surveys of the Dominion Lands Act, which clashed with their traditional long lot system along rivers, and feared displacement by incoming settlers. First Nations faced starvation on reserves due to unfulfilled treaty promises for food and tools. These tensions, combined with political neglect, prompted Louis Riel's return and the formation of a provisional government, leading to the Battle of Batoche.

In Ontario's Grade 8 history curriculum on Creating Canada, 1850-1890, this topic builds skills in analyzing causation, comparing conflicts like the Red River Resistance of 1869-1870, and evaluating multiple perspectives on nation-building. Students examine how broken promises and land disputes reflected broader themes of expansion and Indigenous rights, fostering empathy and critical inquiry.

Active learning benefits this topic greatly. Role-plays of negotiations between Métis leaders and surveyors bring abstract injustices to life, while group timeline comparisons reveal patterns across resistances. These methods make historical causes relatable, encourage evidence-based discussions, and deepen understanding of complex motivations.

Key Questions

1. Analyze the grievances of Métis and First Nations peoples leading to the 1885 resistance.
2. Explain the role of land surveys and broken promises in fueling discontent.
3. Compare the causes of the 1885 resistance with those of the Red River Resistance.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the specific land grievances of Métis and First Nations peoples leading to the North-West Resistance.
• Explain how Dominion Lands Act surveys and unfulfilled treaty promises contributed to Métis and First Nations discontent.
• Compare the primary causes of the North-West Resistance of 1885 with those of the Red River Resistance of 1869-1870.
• Evaluate the role of Louis Riel's leadership in mobilizing resistance against Canadian government policies.
• Identify key events and locations, such as the Battle of Batoche, that marked the escalation of the conflict.

Before You Start

Early Canadian Expansion and Settlement

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of Canada's westward expansion and the government's goals for settlement to grasp the context of the resistance.

Indigenous Peoples and Treaties in Canada

Why: Prior knowledge of the existence and purpose of treaties between Indigenous peoples and the Crown is essential for understanding treaty grievances.

The Red River Resistance (1869-1870)

Why: Comparing the causes of the 1885 resistance requires students to have prior knowledge of the earlier Métis resistance and its motivations.

Key Vocabulary

Métis	A distinct Indigenous people of Canada with French and First Nations ancestry, who developed their own culture and identity.
Dominion Lands Act	Legislation passed by the Canadian government in 1872 to survey and distribute western lands, which often conflicted with Métis land use traditions.
Long Lot System	A traditional Métis land division pattern characterized by narrow rectangular parcels fronting a river or road, providing access to water and transportation.
Treaty Promises	Agreements made between First Nations and the Canadian government, often involving land, annuities, and resources, which were frequently not fully met.
Provisional Government	A temporary government established by the Métis and their allies during the North-West Resistance, led by Louis Riel.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Louis Riel single-handedly caused the North-West Resistance.

What to Teach Instead

Riel catalyzed events but grievances like land surveys and treaty failures built over years with Métis and First Nations input. Role-play simulations help students explore collective decision-making, shifting focus from one leader to systemic issues through peer negotiation.

Common Misconception

The North-West Resistance mirrored the Red River Resistance exactly.

What to Teach Instead

Both involved Métis rights and Riel, but North-West added First Nations alliances and federal surveys absent earlier. Comparative timelines in groups clarify nuances, as students visually align events and debate differences, building precise historical analysis.

Common Misconception

First Nations played no major role in the causes.

What to Teach Instead

Broken treaties directly fueled their alliance with Métis against starvation policies. Jigsaw activities assign First Nations perspectives, prompting students to integrate overlooked views into class discussions and recognize interconnected grievances.

Active Learning Ideas

Jigsaw: Key Grievances

Divide class into three groups: one for Métis land surveys, one for First Nations treaty breaches, one for settler impacts. Each group analyzes two primary sources and prepares a 2-minute summary. Groups then jigsaw to teach their expertise to mixed teams, who create a shared cause-effect chart.

45 min·Small Groups

Formal Debate: Land Survey Clash

Pairs represent Métis defenders of long lots or government chain surveyors. Provide evidence cards on each side. Pairs debate for 10 minutes, then switch roles and reflect on perspective shifts in a class vote.

35 min·Pairs

Timeline Duel: Resistances Compared

Small groups build dual timelines on chart paper: one for Red River Resistance, one for North-West. Mark similarities in red, differences in blue, using textbook events and images. Groups present and class adds connections.

50 min·Small Groups

Map Mysteries: Survey Overlays

Individuals trace 1870s Métis river lots on maps, then overlay 1880s government grids. Annotate impacts on settlements and discuss in pairs how visuals reveal tensions.

30 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Land surveyors today continue to navigate complex land ownership laws and historical survey markers, similar to the challenges faced by Métis communities when their traditional territories were being mapped by the Dominion government.
• Indigenous land rights and treaty negotiations remain a significant and ongoing issue in Canada, with current disputes often tracing their roots back to the historical grievances and broken promises experienced during the era of westward expansion.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are a Métis farmer in 1884. Write down three specific complaints you have about the Canadian government's actions regarding your land and livelihood. Be prepared to share your top complaint with the class.'

Quick Check

Provide students with a short primary source quote from a First Nations leader or Métis elder discussing their concerns in the 1880s. Ask students to identify which specific grievance (land survey, treaty promise, food shortage) the quote primarily addresses and explain their reasoning in one sentence.

Exit Ticket

On an exit ticket, ask students to list one key difference and one key similarity between the causes of the Red River Resistance and the North-West Resistance. They should briefly explain each point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the main causes of the North-West Resistance of 1885?

Primary causes included Métis opposition to square land surveys disrupting river lots, rapid settler influx threatening livelihoods, and First Nations suffering from unkept treaty promises on reserves. Political isolation amplified these, leading Riel's provisional government. Teaching with maps and sources helps students connect local impacts to national expansion policies, around 60 words.

How does the North-West Resistance compare to the Red River Resistance?

Both featured Métis land rights fights led by Riel against federal overreach, yielding numbered governments. North-West differed with First Nations involvement, military defeat at Batoche, and Riel's execution, reflecting intensified conflicts. Timeline activities reveal these patterns, aiding students in spotting causation evolution over 15 years.

What role did land surveys play in the North-West Resistance causes?

The Dominion Lands Act imposed chain surveys in square lots, ignoring Métis river lots vital for farming and transport. This erased cultural land use, sparking petitions ignored by Ottawa. Mapping overlays lets students visualize clashes, making policy impacts concrete and memorable for Grade 8 learners.

How can active learning help teach the causes of the North-West Resistance?

Active strategies like role-play debates on surveys or jigsaw grievance shares engage students directly with perspectives, turning facts into empathetic analysis. Group timelines comparing resistances build causation skills collaboratively. These approaches make 1885 tensions vivid, boost retention through hands-on evidence work, and align with Ontario inquiry expectations for deeper historical thinking.