Metis list of rights-1869
These were the older rights. And I don't understand many of them, please simplify for me.
That treaties be concluded and ratified between the Dominion Government and the several tribes of Indians in the Territory to ensure peace on the frontier.
That the English and French languages be common in the Legislature and Courts, and that all Public Documents and Acts of the Legislature be published in both languages.
That for the term of four years all Military, Civil and Municipal expenses be paid out of Dominion funds.
Okay so these rights don’t seem to be speaking about the Metis that much, the Metis Bill of Rights which were updated in 1884 talk more about the Metis, these ones don’t at all. So what do these list of rights address about the Metis? Because to me, they don’t address anything about them, they just talk about French and English languages.
That treaties be concluded and ratified between the Dominion Government and the several tribes of Indians in the Territory to ensure peace on the frontier.
Legal agreements (treaties) between the government and the Native tribes will guarantee peace on the frontier.
That the English and French languages be common in the Legislature and Courts, and that all Public Documents and Acts of the Legislature be published in both languages.
What part of that sentence don't you understand?
That for the term of four years all Military, Civil and Municipal expenses be paid out of Dominion funds
What part of that sentence don't you understand?
The Metis lived in the Northwest and spoke French.
Are these possibly promises that the Dominion of Canada had promised these people -- but had broken these promises?
That the English and French languages be common in the Legislature and Courts, and that all Public Documents and Acts of the Legislature be published in both languages.
Its just saying that French and English will be the main languages of the country?
That for the term of four years all Military, Civil and Municipal expenses be paid out of Dominion funds
All the money will be taken out of the Dominion Funds to pay for expenses?
The Metis were the ones that drew up these lists of rights. I don't think the dominion promised them anything, the Metis were the ones that asked for all these priviledges. But I don't get what these list of rights are adressing about the Metis, cause it says nothing about the Metis. It doesnt even say anywhere "that land should be protected".
Yes, you're right.
The Metis were asking for these rights for all of the people -- at least of the western territories. Please clarify this with your teacher.
Okay. Thanks:)
Oh wait..So these rights weren't really for the Metis, the Metis were helping their other friends and asking for their rights, so they were helping their companion the Norwesters.
Right.
You are correct that the list of rights you mentioned from 1869 does not specifically address the rights of the Métis people. These rights were actually part of the Manitoba Act, which was a legislation passed by the Canadian government in order to establish the province of Manitoba. The Manitoba Act aimed to address various political and social issues in the region, including the rights of Indigenous peoples and language rights.
While the specific rights you mentioned may not directly refer to the Métis, they do address some broader concerns that were important for the Métis population as well as other communities in Manitoba at the time. Let's break them down:
1. Ensuring peace on the frontier: This first right refers to the need for peace between the Dominion Government (the Canadian government) and various Indigenous tribes in the region, including the Métis. This was especially significant because the Métis people were engaged in a number of conflicts and negotiations related to land rights and self-determination during this period.
2. Language rights: The second right states that both the English and French languages should be used in the legislature, courts, and official documents of the Manitoba government. This was important for the Métis community as they predominantly spoke French and they wanted to ensure that their language and culture were recognized and respected in the province.
3. Funding responsibilities: The third right specifies that the Dominion government would provide funding for military, civil, and municipal expenses in Manitoba for a period of four years. This provision helped alleviate financial burdens on the new province and indirectly benefited the Métis population by providing resources for the development of infrastructure and services.
While these rights may seem broad or not directly connected to the Métis, they were part of the larger framework that sought to address various issues facing the Métis and other communities in Manitoba at that time. It is important to remember that the Métis Bill of Rights in 1884 provided more explicit recognition and protections for the rights and interests of the Métis people.