The South Branch Half-Breeds had endeavored to get their representative in the Dominion House, D.H. Macdowall, to secure for them a grant of scrip in extinguishment of their rights in the Northwest as the original inheritors of the country. Mr. Macdowall was in Ottawa attending the session during the winter of 1884-5, but they seemed unable to get any assurance that their claims would beceive consideration.
Some of the half-breeds in Manitoba had received scrip in extinguishment of their claims but after the rebellion of 1870 many who had not been dealt with moved out from Red River and took up land about Batoche and these had received no scrip either for themselves or for their children.
The agitation had been going on for some time and in the summer of 1884, as is generally known, they had sent three men as delegates to St. Peter’s Mission in Montana with a request to Louis Riel that he would come to Saskatchewan and champion the cause of the half-breeds. The delegates were Gabriel Dumont, Moise Ouellette and James Isbister. Riel came.
There were frequent meetings during the fall and winter. No revolutionary measures were at first comtemplated, but as time passed and they received no definite assurance that their petitions would be regarded, their discontent grew. At length they decided to send an envoy to find out what their member was doing. The man selected was Hon. Laurence Clarke. Mr. Clark was away for a long time and when he returned in March he was met at Batoche by a large company of half-breeds, including Charles Nolin, Philip Garnot (the latter a French-Canadian) and others, anxious to hear his report. Mr. Macdowall, he said, had spoken in the House in behalf of the children of the Saskatchewan half-breeds but some of the members had opposed any further grant of scrip being made. “Some of them at Ottawa said, according to Mr. Clark,” remarked Laviolette, “that if the French and Indian half-breeds raised any row they would get bullets in the head; that was the scrip they would get.” The gathering broke up but it was followed by another in a few days. Said Charles Nolin: “If we can’t get scrip for our children we will raise a revolution.” “Yes,” Gabriel Dumont declared, “that’s what we will have to do.” The following night the half-breeds gathered. They went to Batoche and took Walter and Baker’s store. They were half starved. They stayed around for two or three more days after this, scouting. Laviolette was working with Wm. Tompkins and the Indian Department at this time, three miles north of Duck Lake looking after cattle. Gabriel Dumont and Jonas Moreau came after him and brought him to Batoche, where he was put in the cellar with Billy Tompkins. Next morning he was brought before the council. Said Riel: “If you won’t take up arms with your nation, we’ll turn you over to the Indians to deal with -- let them cut you up or do with you as they please. But if you take up arms we’ll turn you loose to be a soldier with the others.” Thus Laviolette agreed to join the movement. Next day leaders were selected. Ambroise Champagne was the first appointed --- Captain of scouts. He was allowed to choose ten men as his command; they had to be brave men and good riders. Among those he selected was Laviolette. Patrice Fleury was next selected; he was named second captain of scouts, to patrol west of the river, Champagne having the east side. Fleury also chose ten men. Then troop captains were chosen, the captains of the fighting companies. There were nine or ten of these. Gabriel Dumont was commander-in-chief --- the general. There was also a Board of Strategy headed by two more generals --- Charles Nolin and Louis Riel. Other members of the Board were: John Boucher, Philip Gardipui, Pierre Gardipui, Old Man Parenteau (father-in-law of Xavier Batoche), Moise Ouellette, Maxime Lepine, Joseph Arcand, Napoleon Nault (brother of Andre Nault) and Albert Monkman. William Jackson was the first secretary; after he went crazy, Philip Garnot replaced him.
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