Unit 2
UNIT 2: The Development of Western Canada
Cultural Symbols of the Métis
Page 86: Métis and their Culture- Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture
Visit this site for an informative journey into Métis culture. You will learn about all aspects of the culture in this comprehensive site that has many external links as well as videos to view.
- Métis National Council
This is the official site of the Métis people. Lean about past and current events in Métis life.
Louis Riel
Page 91: Louis Riel- Library and Archives Canada: Heroes and Lore and Yore
Read this brief biography of Louis Riel.
- Historica Minutes
Watch this short dramatization and read the synopsis of Louis Riel’s reflections about his impeding punishment for treason.
The Manitoba Act
Page 94: The Manitoba Act and Birth of Manitoba- Manitobia: Life and Times
Read about how the province of Manitoba came to be.
- Library and Archives Canada: Canadian Confederation – Manitoba
Read about Manitoba’s history and how it became a province of Canada.
- Canada in the Making: 1867–1931, Territorial Expansion
View another site with information on Manitoba joining Canada.
The RCMP Today
Page 101: History of the RCMP- Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Origins of the RCMP
Find out the history of the development of Canada’s renowned police force on the official RCMP website.
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police: An Interactive History
This site allows you to navigate through various time periods in the history of the RCMP and provides photos and biographies of important people.
Different Understandings of the Treaties
Page 112: Treaties in Canada’s West- What is Treaty 8?
Read about the perspectives and controversies surrounding Treaty #8.
- Natural resources Canada: Historical Indian Treaties 1725–1923
This map shows the various regions in which treaties were made in Canada.
- Canada in the Making: Aboriginals: Treaties and Relations
Follow the links to read a background of some of the numbered treaties in Western Canada post-Confederation.
The National Policy
Page 117: Macdonald’s 1878 National Policy- University of Calgary: The National Policy
Learn about what the National Policy was and various historical viewpoints on it.
- The Globe and Mail: Time to Honour a National Hero
Read former Prime Minister John Turner’s article recognizing John A. Macdonald.
The Canadian Pacific Railway Company
Page 121: The Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway- Library and Archives Canada: Canadian Confederation
A brief history of the CPR and its importance to Confederation can be found on this page.
- BC Archives: CPR
This is a photo essay of the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Chinese Workers
Page 127: Early Chinese Immigration to Canada- CBC Archives: Not Welcome Anymore
A video clip entitled “A Tale of Perseverance” talks about the racism Chinese settlers faced in Canada and how they resisted and survived.
- Chinese Canadian National Council: Chinese Canadian Historical Photo Exhibit
View summaries, photos, and timelines of the Chinese experience and history in Canada.
Building a Home
Page 136: Early Settlers to Western Canada- University of Calgary: The Peopling of Canada
Read a short outline of immigration to Western Canada from the homesteaders in the plains to the racism experienced against certain immigrant groups.
- Civilizations.ca: Immigration to Western Canada
Browse through this site for more on immigration to Western Canada. This site includes a short narrative and photos.
- Scattering of Seeds
An informative site based on a TV series of immigrants’ stories on coming to Canada. Browse the site map to find stories of various people from various lands throughout Canada’s history.
Canada’s West Inspires Music
Page 139: The Canadian Railroad Trilogy- Gordon Lightfoot
Read the lyrics to the “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” by Gordon Lightfoot. You can also look on this site for information about the singer/songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot.
Canada’s West Inspires Music
Page 139: Artists Inspired by Canada’s West Coast- Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery: Group of Seven
View this site to read biographies of each member of the Group of Seven, and see artwork by each artist.
- West Coast Art
Look through artwork and biographies of some west coast artists currently active in pursuing their craft.
We Cannot Live and Wait
Page 148: Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear) and Other Aboriginal Leaders from Canada’s West- Alberta Heritage: First Nations and Métis
This page tells who Mistahimaskwa was and his importance in the development of Canada. The rest of this site gives valuable information on Métis and First Nation peoples.
- University of Saskatchewan Libraries: Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker)
Learn about Poundmaker, who along with Mistahimaskwa was central to the Northwest Resistance.
Aftermath of Resistance
Page 153: The Northwest Resistance- DanielPaul.com: Northwest Resistance
Read about a First Nations’ perspective on the Northwest Resistance from the website of Daniel Paul, winner of the Order of Canada.
- Northwest Resistance
Check this database of information and photo artifacts from the University of Saskatchewan chronicling the Northwest Rebellion.
Boom Years
Page 156: Material Advertising Western Canada to New Immigrants- Civilization.ca: The Last Best West
This site will show you documents that were used to advertise Canada to attract new immigrants in the USA, Britain, and Europe from 1870–1930. Look on the bottom of the page for links to navigate the information found in the site.
- Library and Archives Canada: The Canadian West
More information on how Western Canada was advertised to make people want to immigrate. Look through the rest of this site for more information on the history of Western Canada.
Was Canada’s Door Open or Closed
Page 162: Black and Francophone Communities in Western Canada- British Columbia Black History Awareness Society
Read about the history of black immigration in the province of British Columbia
- Historica: Black Pioneers in Western Canada
This article describes the hardships and triumphs black pioneers faced in coming to Western Canada.
- Alberta Heritage: Alberta Francophone Heritage website
Take a virtual tour of the history of Francophone heritage in the province of Alberta.
- Fête fransaskoise – Société historique de la Saskatchean
A history of the Fête fransaskoise, a celebration of French culture in Saskatchewan.
The Komagata Maru Affair
Page 163: Early Indian Immigration to Canada- Scattering of Seeds: Passage from India
Read about Bagga Singh’s story of immigration to Canada. Follow links to see video clips of the episode as well as to see information on the Komagata Maru.
- Komagata Maru Foundation
A site dedicated to the promotion of Indian Culture in Canada, with history and stories of the Komagata Maru Incident.
Immigrants from Eastern Europe
Page 165: Early Eastern European Immigration to CanadaView the following sites for information on the history of these cultural groups’ immigration to Canada:
- Alberta Heritage: Ukrainians
- University of Waterloo: Immigrants to Canada (Eastern European)
- Library and Archives Canada: The Polish-Canadian Press
Gold Rush in the Yukon
Page 171: Yukon Gold Rush- Virtual Museum
This is a comprehensive site of photographs from the Klondike gold rush with descriptions and information to match.
- Canadian Mysteries: Who Discovered the Klondike Gold?
Enter this site to read about the men and women who ventured to the Klondike looking for gold. Find out for yourself if there’s a mystery to its discovery.