1870
Metis List of Rights
adopted February 3, 1870
1. That in view of the present exceptional position of the
Northwest, duties up goods imported into the country shall
continue as at present (except in the case of spirituous
liquors) for three years, and for such further time as may
elapse, until there be uninterrupted railroad communication
between Red River settlement and St. Paul, and also steam
communications between Red River settlement and Lake Superior.
2. As long as this country remains a territory in the
Dominion of Canada, there shall be no direct taxation, except
such as may be imposed by the local legislature, for municipal
or other local purposes.
3. That during the time this country shall remain in the
position of a territory, in the Dominion of Canada, all
military, civil and other public expenses, in connection with
the general government of the country, or that have hitherto
been borne by the public funds of the settlement, beyond the
receipt of the above mentioned duties, shall be met by the
Dominion of Canada.
4. That while the burden of public expense in this territory
is borne by Canada, the country be governed by a
Lieutenant-Governor from Canada, and a Legislature, three
members of whom being heads of departments of the Government,
shall be nominated by the Governor General of Canada.
5. That after the expiration of this exceptional period, the
country shall be governed, as regards its local affairs, as the
Provinces of Ontario and Quebec are now governed, by a
Legislature by the people, and a Ministry responsible to it
under a Lieutenant- Governor, appointed by the Governor General
of Canada.
6. That there shall be no interference by the Dominion
Parliament in the local affairs of this territory, other than is
allowed in the provinces, and that this territory shall have and
enjoy in all respects, the same privileges, advantages and aids
in meeting the public expenses of this territory as the
provinces have and enjoy.
7. That, while the Northwest remains a territory, the
Legislature have a right to pass all laws local to the
territory, over the veto of the Lieutenant-Governor by a
two-third vote.
8. A homestead and pre-emption law.
9. That, while the Northwest remains a territory, the sum of
$25,000 a year be appropriated for schools, roads and bridges.
10. That all the public buildings be at the expense of the
Dominion treasury.
11. That there shall be guaranteed uninterrupted steam
communication to Lake Superior, within five years; and also the
establishment, by rail, of a connection with the American
railway as soon as it reaches the international line.
12. That the military force required in this country be
composed of natives of the country during four years. [Withdrawn
after a vote of 16 yeas to 23 nays.]
13. 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.
14. That the Judge of the Supreme Court speak the French and
English languages.
15. That treaties be concluded between the Dominion and the
several Indian tribes of the country as soon as possible.
16. That, until the population of the country entitles us to
more, we have three representatives in the Canadian Parliament,
one in the Senate, and two in the Legislative Assembly.
17. That all the properties, rights and privileges as
hitherto enjoyed by us be respected, and that the recognition
and arrangement of local customs, usages and privileges be made
under the control of the Local Legislature.
18. That the Local Legislature of this territory have full
control of all the lands inside a circumference having upper
Fort Garry as a centre, and that the radius of this
circumference be the number of miles that the American line is
distant from Fort Garry.
19. That every man in the country (except uncivilized and
unsettled Indians) who has attained the age of 21 years, and
every British subject, a stranger to this country who has
resided three years in this country and is a householder, shall
have a right to vote at the election of a member to serve in the
Legislature of the country, and in the Dominion Parliament; and
every foreign subject, other than a British subject, who has
resided the same length of time in the country, and is a
householder, shall have the same right to vote on condition of
his taking the oath of allegiance, it being understood that this
article be subject to amendment exclusively by the Local
Legislature.
20. That the Northwest territory shall never be held liable
for any portion of the L- 300,000 paid to the Hudson's Bay
Company or for any portion of the public debt of Canada, as it
stands at the time of our entering the confederation; and if,
thereafter, we be called upon to assume our share of said public
debt, we consent only, on condition that we first be allowed the
amount for which we shall be held liable.
***
Source: Alexander Begg, The Creation of Manitoba (Toronto:
1871), p. 255.
