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Battle of Seven Oaks (1816)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Seven Oaks (known to the Métis people
as la Victoire de la Grenouillière, or the Victory of toad road; also known as the Seven Oaks Massacre) took place on June 19, 1816, during the long dispute between the Hudson's Bay Company
and the North West Company
, rival fur-trading
companies in western Canada
.
had issued the Pemmican Proclamation prohibiting the export of pemmican
because the Earl of Selkirk
wished to set up a colony of settlers on Red River and all provisions were to be kept for the colony. Macdonell was the governor of the Red River Colony
(the area around present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba), which had been established by the majority shareholder of the Hudson's Bay Company, Thomas Douglas
. The local Métis
, however, did not acknowledge the authority of the Red River Settlement, and this stand was probably consistent with the Royal Proclamation of 1763
. The pemmican proclamation was a blow to both the Métis and North West Company. The North West Company accused the HBC of unfairly monopolizing the fur trade with this edict. As the North West Company foundered under these and other restrictions, the HBC attempted to take over the NWC, but with no success.
In 1815 after several nervous breakdowns and conflicts, Macdonell resigned as governor of the Red River Colony
. He was replaced by Robert Semple
, an American businessman with no previous experience in the fur trade.
and working for the North West Company, seized a supply of Hudson's Bay Company pemmican (that was stolen from the Métis) and were traveling to a meeting with traders of the North West Company to whom they intended to sell it. They were met by Semple and a group of HBC men and settlers south of Fort Douglas
along the Red River
at a location known to the English as Seven Oaks, or la Grenouillière (Frog Plain) by the Métis. The North West Company sent a French-Canadian, François-Firmin Boucher, to speak to Semple's men, and he and Semple argued, and a gunfight ensued when the English tried to arrest Boucher and seize his horse. Although early reports stated that the Métis fired the first shot and began the fray, Royal Commissioner W.B. Coltman determined that "next to certainty" that one of Semple's men fired first. Semple and his men did not have a chance against the Métis, who were skilled sharpshooters and outnumbered Semple's forces by nearly 3 to 1. The Métis repulsed the attack, killing 21 men, including Governor Semple, while the Métis themselves suffered only one fatality. A witness at the scene, unknown to most named Ian Inkster, a worker for the cno, also stated that the first gunshot was fired by a Métis. This was written in his diary, just found recently.
er appointed to investigate the incident. Grant became an important figure in the Hudson's Bay Company after its merger with the North West Company.
A plaque commemorating the battle was erected at the intersection of Main Street and Rupertsland Boulevard in the Winnipeg district of West Kildonan
, the approximate centre of the battle site. The surrounding neighbourhood is named Seven Oaks after the battle.
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...
as la Victoire de la Grenouillière, or the Victory of toad road; also known as the Seven Oaks Massacre) took place on June 19, 1816, during the long dispute between the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
and the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
, rival fur-trading
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...
companies in western Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Background
Miles MacdonellMiles Macdonell
Miles MacDonell was the first governor of the Red River Colony , a 19th-century Scottish settlement located in present-day Manitoba and North Dakota.He was born in Inverness, Scotland, around 1767...
had issued the Pemmican Proclamation prohibiting the export of pemmican
Pemmican
Pemmican is a concentrated mixture of fat and protein used as a nutritious food. The word comes from the Cree word pimîhkân, which itself is derived from the word pimî, "fat, grease". It was invented by the native peoples of North America...
because the Earl of Selkirk
Earl of Selkirk
Earl of Selkirk is a title in the Peerage of Scotland.It was created on 4 August 1646 for Lord William Douglas, third son of William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas, along with the title Lord Daer and Shortcleuch...
wished to set up a colony of settlers on Red River and all provisions were to be kept for the colony. Macdonell was the governor of the Red River Colony
Red River Colony
The Red River Colony was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful...
(the area around present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba), which had been established by the majority shareholder of the Hudson's Bay Company, Thomas Douglas
Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk
Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk was a Scottish peer. He was born at Saint Mary's Isle, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. He was noteworthy as a Scottish philanthropist who sponsored immigrant settlements in Canada at the Red River Colony.- Early background :Douglas was the seventh son of Dunbar...
. The local 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...
, however, did not acknowledge the authority of the Red River Settlement, and this stand was probably consistent with the Royal Proclamation of 1763
Royal Proclamation of 1763
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued October 7, 1763, by King George III following Great Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
. The pemmican proclamation was a blow to both the Métis and North West Company. The North West Company accused the HBC of unfairly monopolizing the fur trade with this edict. As the North West Company foundered under these and other restrictions, the HBC attempted to take over the NWC, but with no success.
In 1815 after several nervous breakdowns and conflicts, Macdonell resigned as governor of the Red River Colony
Red River Colony
The Red River Colony was a colonization project set up by Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk in 1811 on of land granted to him by the Hudson's Bay Company under what is referred to as the Selkirk Concession. The colony along the Red River of the North was never very successful...
. He was replaced by Robert Semple
Robert Semple (Canada)
Robert Semple was Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company from autumn 1815 until his death at the Battle of Seven Oaks. In May 1816, the Métis led by Cuthbert Grant thought Semple and his men were going to declare war, so they got ready. Semple and some men went to confront the Métis, and a fight...
, an American businessman with no previous experience in the fur trade.
Battle
In 1816 a band of mostly Métis but including some French-Canadians, English, and Native American employees, led by Cuthbert GrantCuthbert Grant
Cuthbert Grant was a prominent Métis leader of the early nineteenth century.-Life:Grant was the son of a Scottish father and Métis mother. He was born in 1793 at Fort Tremblant, a North West Company trading post located near the present-day town of Togo, Saskatchewan, where his father was a manager...
and working for the North West Company, seized a supply of Hudson's Bay Company pemmican (that was stolen from the Métis) and were traveling to a meeting with traders of the North West Company to whom they intended to sell it. They were met by Semple and a group of HBC men and settlers south of Fort Douglas
Fort Douglas (Canada)
Fort Douglas was a fort of the Hudson's Bay Company that was built by Scottish and Irish settlers in 1812 in what is today Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was in the immediate vicinity of the North West Company establishment, Fort Gibraltar...
along the Red River
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
at a location known to the English as Seven Oaks, or la Grenouillière (Frog Plain) by the Métis. The North West Company sent a French-Canadian, François-Firmin Boucher, to speak to Semple's men, and he and Semple argued, and a gunfight ensued when the English tried to arrest Boucher and seize his horse. Although early reports stated that the Métis fired the first shot and began the fray, Royal Commissioner W.B. Coltman determined that "next to certainty" that one of Semple's men fired first. Semple and his men did not have a chance against the Métis, who were skilled sharpshooters and outnumbered Semple's forces by nearly 3 to 1. The Métis repulsed the attack, killing 21 men, including Governor Semple, while the Métis themselves suffered only one fatality. A witness at the scene, unknown to most named Ian Inkster, a worker for the cno, also stated that the first gunshot was fired by a Métis. This was written in his diary, just found recently.
Aftermath
The Métis were later exonerated by a Royal CommissionRoyal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
er appointed to investigate the incident. Grant became an important figure in the Hudson's Bay Company after its merger with the North West Company.
A plaque commemorating the battle was erected at the intersection of Main Street and Rupertsland Boulevard in the Winnipeg district of West Kildonan
West Kildonan
West Kildonan is a residential suburb of Winnipeg, Manitoba, lying on the west side of the Red River, and immediately north of the old City of Winnipeg in the north-central part of the city...
, the approximate centre of the battle site. The surrounding neighbourhood is named Seven Oaks after the battle.
Further reading
- Barkwell, Lawrence J. The Battle of Seven Oaks : a Métis perspective / Lawrence J. Barkwell. Winnipeg : Louis Riel Institute, 2010. ISBN 978-0-9809912-9-1
- Metis Resource Centre article on Battle of Seven Oaks