Battle of Seven Oaks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Seven Oaks
Part of the Pemmican War
The Fight at Seven Oaks, 19 June 1816
Date 19 June 1816 Location Seven Oaks (Winnipeg, Manitoba) Result Decisive Métis/North West Company victory
Belligerents
Métis of the North West Company	Hudson's Bay Company
Commanders and leaders
Cuthbert Grant	Robert Semple  †
Strength
65	28
Casualties and losses
1	21
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name: Battle of Seven Oaks National Historic Site of Canada
Designated:	1920

The Battle of Seven Oaks was a big fight that happened on June 19, 1816. It was part of the Pemmican War. This battle was between two rival fur trading companies: the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and the North West Company (NWC). The Métis people fought alongside the North West Company. They called this battle "the Victory of Frog Plain." It took place in what is now Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Why the Battle Happened

The Battle of Seven Oaks was the peak of a long disagreement. It was about who controlled the fur trade in western Canada. Two powerful companies, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and the North West Company (NWC), were rivals. They both wanted to control the valuable fur trade.

The Pemmican Proclamation

In 1814, Miles Macdonell was the governor of the Red River Colony. This area is now Winnipeg, Manitoba. He made a rule called the Pemmican Proclamation. This rule said that no one could take pemmican out of the colony for a year. Pemmican is a very important food made from dried meat, fat, and berries. It was vital for fur traders on long journeys.

The Hudson's Bay Company wanted to make sure they had enough food. But the North West Company saw this rule as a trick. They thought Lord Selkirk, who supported the HBC, wanted to control all the pemmican.

The Métis people did not agree with the Red River Settlement's rules. The Pemmican Proclamation hurt both the Métis and the North West Company. The North West Company felt the HBC was trying to unfairly control the fur trade.

New Governor Arrives

Miles MacDonell left his job as governor in 1815. He had faced many problems. Robert Semple took his place. Semple was an American businessman. He did not have any experience in the fur trade.

The Battle Itself

In 1816, Cuthbert Grant led a group of North West Company employees to get back pemmican that had been taken from the Métis.

In 1816, Cuthbert Grant led a group of North West Company workers. Their goal was to get back a supply of pemmican. This pemmican had been taken from the Métis by the Hudson's Bay Company.

Grant's group met Governor Semple and his men. They met north of Fort Douglas. This spot was along the Red River. It was known as Seven Oaks. The Métis called it la Grenouillière, or Frog Plain.

The First Shot

The North West Company sent François-Firmin Boucher to talk to Semple's men. Boucher and Semple started arguing. A fight began when Semple's men tried to arrest Boucher. They also tried to take his horse.

At first, people thought the Métis fired first. But a government investigator, William Bachelor Coltman, found out the truth. He was almost certain that one of Semple's men fired the first shot.

The Métis were very good at shooting. They also had more fighters than Semple's group. There were almost three Métis for every one of Semple's men. The Métis killed 21 men, including Governor Semple. Only one Métis fighter died.

What Happened After

An obelisk monument was put up in 1891 to remember the battle. It is in West Kildonan, Winnipeg.

The settlers were very sad and scared after losing so many men. The day after the battle, they packed their things. They sailed north, leaving the Métis in charge of the settlement.

The government investigator, W. B. Coltman, looked into the event. He said the Métis were not to blame. Lord Selkirk tried to take some North West Company members to court. He kept Boucher in prison for almost two years. But all the court cases ended with the people being found innocent. The remaining charges were dropped.

Members of the North West Company then took Lord Selkirk to court. Selkirk's health and power declined after this. He died in 1820. The two rival companies, the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, joined together in 1821.

In 1828, the Hudson's Bay Company gave Cuthbert Grant a yearly salary. They also made him "warden of the plains of Red River." This was an important job.

Remembering the Battle

In 1891, the Manitoba Historical Society put up a tall stone monument. It remembers the battle. It is located in West Kildonan, Winnipeg. The battle site was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1920.

Parks Canada added new signs to the site. This was part of their efforts to work with the Métis. Seven Oaks Park was also redesigned. The site officially reopened on June 19, 2016. This marked 200 years since the battle.