The Settlers
Why did the Selkirk settlers come to Canada?
To find new land and escape poverty in Scotland.
Who was the founder of the Selkirk Settlement?
Lord Selkirk (Thomas Douglas)
Name one food the settlers grew.
Wheat, potatoes, or vegetables.
Who lived in the Red River area before the settlers arrived?
First Nations and Métis people.
What two fur companies were fighting during this time?
The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) and the North West Company (NWC).
What were the people from Scotland called?
Highland settlers / Scottish Settlers
Who was the governor who helped lead the settlement?
Miles Macdonell.
What kind of homes did settlers build?
Log houses.
What animal was very important to the Métis?
The Bison.
What did the Pemmican Proclamation try to stop?
The selling or exporting of pemmican.
What river did the settlers build their homes near?
The Red River
Who helped teach settlers how to survive during hard times?
The Métis and First Nations.
What tool did settlers use to break the tough prairie soil?
A plow.
How did the First Nations help the Selkirk settlers?
They gave food, shared survival skills, and helped them farm.
Why was pemmican important?
It was a high-energy food used for long journeys.
What happened on the settlers’ first winter?
Many settlers struggled, got sick, or ran out of food.
Who was the Métis leader that opposed the settlement?
Cuthbert Grant.
What was the biggest danger to crops in the early years?
Grasshoppers or harsh weather.
Why were the Métis upset with the new settlers?
They feared losing land and bison hunting areas.
What battle happened because of tension between settlers and Métis?
The Battle of Seven Oaks.
What was the name of the document that gave Lord Selkirk the land?
The Selkirk Grant.
What company supported Lord Selkirk’s plan?
The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC).
What did settlers do to survive when crops failed?
They traded with the Métis or First Nations, or hunted and fished.
What cultural group is known for the bison hunt and Red River carts?
The Métis.
What happened after years of fighting between the fur companies?
The HBC and NWC merged into one company.