Angus McKay (politician)
Encyclopedia
Angus McKay was a Canadian politician
who represented the Conservative Party
in the riding of Marquette
, Manitoba
. He was elected on 2 March 1871 in a by-election
. His term ended on 8 July 1872. He was the first aboriginal Canadian elected to the House of Commons
.
He was born Auguste McKay at Edmonton House (later Edmonton, Alberta) on 1 November 1836. A Roman Catholic, McKay appears to have identified with the French-speaking community of his mother rather than with the English-speaking, Presbyterian background of his father, a Scottish
fur trade
r.
His mother's ancestors were Cree
and French Canadian
. His brother James was also a fur trader like their father.
Although Métis
, he was opposed to Louis Riel
's methods for dealing with the Canadian government and he was arrested by Riel in March 1870. That same year he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
in the riding of Lake Manitoba, and was reelected in 1874. McKay resigned in 1876; his brother James was elected to the seat by acclamation. Later in 1876, Angus McKay was appointed Indian agent for those areas covered by Treaty No. 4 including the Qu'Appelle Valley
; in 1879, he was posted to the areas covered by Treaty No. 5 in northern Manitoba, serving until 1897. His date and place of death are unknown.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who represented the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
in the riding of Marquette
Marquette (electoral district)
Marquette was a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1871 to 1979.This riding was created in 1871 following the creation of the province of Manitoba in 1870....
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He was elected on 2 March 1871 in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
. His term ended on 8 July 1872. He was the first aboriginal Canadian elected to the House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
.
He was born Auguste McKay at Edmonton House (later Edmonton, Alberta) on 1 November 1836. A Roman Catholic, McKay appears to have identified with the French-speaking community of his mother rather than with the English-speaking, Presbyterian background of his father, a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
r.
His mother's ancestors were Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
. His brother James was also a fur trader like their father.
Although Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
, he was opposed to Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
's methods for dealing with the Canadian government and he was arrested by Riel in March 1870. That same year he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
in the riding of Lake Manitoba, and was reelected in 1874. McKay resigned in 1876; his brother James was elected to the seat by acclamation. Later in 1876, Angus McKay was appointed Indian agent for those areas covered by Treaty No. 4 including the Qu'Appelle Valley
Qu'Appelle River
The Qu'Appelle River is a Canadian river that flows 430 km east from Lake Diefenbaker in southwestern Saskatchewan to join the Assiniboine River in Manitoba, just south of Lake of the Prairies, near the village of St. Lazare....
; in 1879, he was posted to the areas covered by Treaty No. 5 in northern Manitoba, serving until 1897. His date and place of death are unknown.