Edgar Dewdney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edgar Dewdney
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Edgar Dewdney, 1883
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| 5th Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia | |
| In office November 1, 1892 – November 18, 1897 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor General | The Lord Stanley of Preston The Earl of Aberdeen |
| Premier | Theodore Davie John Herbert Turner |
| Preceded by | Hugh Nelson |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Robert McInnes |
| 4th Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Territories | |
| In office December 3, 1881 – July 1, 1888 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor General | Marquess of Lorne The Marquess of Lansdowne The Lord Stanley of Preston |
| Preceded by | David Laird |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Royal |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Yale |
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| In office October 12, 1872 – June 6, 1879 |
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| Preceded by | none |
| Succeeded by | Francis Jones Barnard |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Assiniboia East |
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| In office September 12, 1888 – October 26, 1892 |
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| Preceded by | William Dell Perley |
| Succeeded by | William Walter McDonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 5, 1835 Bideford, England |
| Died | August 8, 1916 (aged 80) Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Jane Shaw Moir
(m. 1864) |
| Occupation | engineer, railway surveyor |
| Profession | Politician |
Edgar Dewdney, PC (born November 5, 1835 – died August 8, 1916) was an important Canadian figure. He was a surveyor, who helped build roads, and a politician. He was also an Indian Commissioner, which meant he worked with Indigenous peoples. Dewdney was born in England and moved to British Columbia in 1859. He came to Canada to work as a surveyor for the Dewdney Trail, a famous path through the province.
In 1870, Dewdney started his political career. He was elected to the Legislative Council of British Columbia. Later, in 1872, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Yale region, representing the Conservative party. He was re-elected several times. Dewdney served as Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Territories from 1881 to 1888. He was also the fifth Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia from 1892 to 1897. During his time as Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories, he also worked as the Indian Commissioner. In 1897, Dewdney retired from politics. He then worked as a financial agent until he passed away in 1916.
During his political career, Dewdney played a role in the settlement of western Canada. He also influenced the relationship between the Canadian government and Indigenous peoples in the 1800s. He faced many challenges, including a severe food shortage among Indigenous communities. This happened after the buffalo herds, which Indigenous peoples relied on, almost disappeared. He also dealt with issues related to the North-West Rebellion of 1885.
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Early Life and Career
Edgar Dewdney was born in Bideford, England. His parents were Charles Dewdney and Fanny Hollingshead. He came from a wealthy family, which gave him many opportunities. Dewdney was married twice. His first marriage was to Jane Shaw Moir in 1864. His second marriage was in 1909 to Blanche Elizabeth Plantagenet Kemeys-Tynte. He did not have any children.
Dewdney first wanted to be a civil engineer. He studied this subject at Cardiff University. After finishing his training in 1859, he moved to the Pacific Northwest. He hoped to find success there with his new skills. He was also interested in moving to the North-West Territories because gold had been found in the Fraser Valley. Dewdney helped build important trails in British Columbia. One of these was the Dewdney Trail, which became a main route into the interior of the colony.
Dewdney became involved in politics in British Columbia in the 1860s. At first, he didn't know much about how Canadian politics worked. After a few years in provincial politics, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald asked Dewdney to become the Indian Commissioner in the North-West. Macdonald knew that Dewdney had some understanding of Indigenous peoples. Later, Dewdney held two important jobs at the same time: Indian Commissioner and Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories. He also served as Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.
Dewdney was known as a skilled trail builder in British Columbia. His work helped Canada expand westward. However, he also faced challenges regarding this expansion and its effects on Indigenous peoples.
Surveyor During the Gold Rushes of the 1860s
Dewdney started his career as a surveyor. He oversaw the survey of New Westminster. In 1865, Governor Frederick Seymour asked Dewdney to build a trail to the East Kootenay region. This trail would help coastal merchants trade with the gold miners in that area. It also helped Canada keep control of the region and prevent American influence. The trail became known as the Dewdney Trail. Parts of it are still used today for hiking. Provincial Highway 3 largely follows the route of the Dewdney Trail.
Entry into Politics
From 1868 to 1869, Dewdney was active in colonial politics. He represented the Kootenay region in the Legislative Council of British Columbia. After British Columbia joined Canadian Confederation in 1871, he became a Conservative MP for the Yale area. He was elected in 1872.
In 1879, Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald appointed Dewdney to his cabinet. Dewdney served as Indian Commissioner for the North-West Territories until 1888.
In 1881, Macdonald arranged for Dewdney to become Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Territories. This was a powerful executive position. Dewdney resigned his seat in the House of Commons but continued as Indian Commissioner. He held both roles until 1888. Macdonald, who was also the Minister of the Interior, gave direct orders to Dewdney. At that time, the North-West Territories did not have a fully elected government, so Dewdney was its head of government.
One of his important decisions was moving the territorial capital from Battleford to Wascana in 1883. Wascana, which means "Pile of Bones" in Cree, was a flat area with little water or trees. Dewdney had bought a lot of land there, close to where the Canadian Pacific Railway was planned. The main street in this new capital, later renamed Regina, was called Dewdney Avenue.
After his time as Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Territories, Dewdney was elected to Parliament again. He represented Assiniboia East (now southeastern Saskatchewan) from 1888 to 1891. During this time, he also served as Minister of the Interior and Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
In 1892, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia. He held this position until 1897. He retired from politics in 1900.
In 1909, after his first wife Jane passed away, Dewdney married Blanche Kemeys-Tynte.
Challenges: Food Shortages and Indigenous Communities
When Edgar Dewdney became Lieutenant Governor in May 1879, he immediately faced a serious problem: Indigenous peoples were struggling with severe food shortages. This was because the buffalo, which they relied on for food, clothing, and other resources, had almost disappeared. The Canadian government had encouraged the hunting of buffalo to help clear the land for settlement. This had a devastating impact on Indigenous communities. Many people were starving in various places across the North-West Territories.
Dewdney's plan was to encourage Indigenous communities to settle on reserves. There, agents would teach them how to farm. In July 1879, he reported on the difficult conditions at Blackfoot Crossing:
On arriving there I found about 1300 Indians in a very destitute condition, and many on the verge of starvation. Young men who were known to be stout and hearty fellows some months ago were quite emaciated and so weak they could hardly work ; the old people and widows, who with their children live on the charity of the younger and more prosperous, had nothing, and many a pitiable tale was told of the misery they had endured.
By that autumn, seventeen instructors were sent to different reserves with tools and seeds to teach farming. However, Dewdney was later criticized for not responding to requests for food aid during the winter of 1882-83. Some believed that the government's approach was to encourage Indigenous peoples to move to reserves by limiting other options.
In 1880, Dewdney wrote a report about how Indian Affairs were managed in the North-West Territories. This report described the conditions but only from a colonial point of view, without including Indigenous voices. He noted that the lack of buffalo had caused a famine, forcing Indigenous peoples to depend on government food supplies. To solve the crisis, Dewdney suggested moving all Indigenous peoples in the region onto reserves. Because there were so few buffalo, the government had to provide food rations, which were given out by the North-West Mounted Police.
Dewdney traveled with Col. James Macleod of the North-West Mounted Police to see the crisis firsthand. Macleod believed that farming, not buffalo hunting, was the solution. Dewdney agreed and proposed sending instructors to reserves to teach farming and provide supplies. The Royal Commission report suggested that some members of the Blackfoot nation were thankful for Dewdney's efforts. However, a buffalo herd later destroyed crops at Blackfoot, showing the challenges of farming in the region.
In the early 1880s, government officials sometimes limited food rations to encourage Indigenous people to follow government policies. For example, when buffalo herds were reported near Fort Walsh, Dewdney ordered that food rations for that area be reduced. This led to the closing of Fort Walsh in 1882. Many Indigenous people faced starvation unless they signed treaties and moved north. Dewdney stated that he would recognize any male Cree as a chief if he could get 100 or more men to support him. This led some Metis, Cree, and Assiniboine groups to separate from their main bands to receive promised rations.
In 1882, many Cree and Assiniboine traveling to Indian Head died from starvation. The reserve there was even called Win-cha-pa-ghen, or Skull Mountainettes, because of the many victims. Dewdney believed that if Indigenous peoples continued to act against the government's wishes, their situation would worsen.
In 1884, as tensions grew before the North-West Rebellion, a legal advisor warned Dewdney that the government needed to help Indigenous communities to avoid further misery and starvation. However, Dewdney largely ignored this warning.
In 1886, Dewdney described the government's food aid as a "policy of reward and punishment." This meant that only groups considered "loyal" would receive food, livestock, and farming equipment. Treaties promised farming supplies, but Dewdney noted that these supplies were often insufficient. The government wanted Indigenous peoples to become self-sufficient through farming to reduce the cost of famine relief. However, the lack of proper supplies made this difficult. The food crisis remained a major challenge during Dewdney's time as Lieutenant Governor.
North-West Rebellion of 1885
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was an uprising led by the Metis and other Indigenous peoples in the North-West Territories. They were unhappy with the Canadian government's land policies and the lack of support. The Metis felt their land rights were threatened as the government gave more land to settlers. This, along with the decline of buffalo and insufficient government aid, led to the rebellion. It started as a peaceful protest, but when the North-West Mounted Police arrived, violence broke out. The conflict lasted five months, ending with the defeat of the Metis rebels by federal forces.
Edgar Dewdney was the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories during this rebellion. He received information from police superintendents about the growing unrest. Dewdney believed he could keep the peace, but he worried about the ability of Indian agents to control the situation. He asked for more inspectors to help manage the vast territory. Dewdney supported increasing rations for Indigenous communities and believed that treaty promises should be kept to maintain peace.
Land Concerns
The issue of Metis land claims had been a problem for many years. When Metis leader Louis Riel returned to Canada, communities along the Saskatchewan River pushed for their political demands. The government was not willing to negotiate much. In 1884, Riel and the Metis sent their demands to Ottawa. Dewdney stated that the government would look into claims from those who hadn't received land in Manitoba, but he made no other promises. Riel wanted "land titles and government by the people," rather than Dewdney having complete power.
Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald had often put off dealing with these land issues. Settlers in the region became worried about a rebellion. In February 1885, Dewdney urged the Prime Minister to respond to the Metis' demands, but this request was again ignored. Later that month, reports came to Dewdney about Metis military actions, including them getting weapons illegally. Dewdney was alarmed and prepared to send police if things got worse. When Riel and his followers began taking prisoners and seeking support from nearby reserves, Dewdney allowed one hundred Mounted Police to intervene. Dewdney wanted to prevent other Indigenous peoples from joining Riel to keep settlers calm. Land was very important to Riel and the Metis for their future. When their demands were not met, some Metis communities prepared for military action.
Rations as a Means of Control
Land and food were important tools the government used to manage Indigenous peoples. These were also key reasons for the resistance. Before the rebellion, Dewdney was hesitant to give large amounts of food rations to Metis settlements unless they were in extreme need. This changed during the rebellion. Dewdney's new idea was to "tempt" Metis and other Indigenous peoples to stay on their reserves and remain loyal to the government by offering them more food and goods.
When violence broke out, Dewdney visited reserves. He listened to the needs of the people there to keep them content. He offered more rations like tobacco, bacon, flour, and tea. This was done to keep Indigenous people on the reserves loyal to the government and separate from the rebellious Metis. Dewdney continued this strategy throughout the rebellion. He stressed the importance of loyalty to the government. After the rebellion ended, Dewdney suggested that rations and other goods should be withheld from "rebel Indians" until justice was decided. He believed that those who had been loyal should be rewarded with money and livestock.
The North-West Rebellion is connected to the food crisis, as seen in the Frog Lake Massacre. This event on April 2, 1885, was partly due to the lack of food and resources for Indigenous people in the Frog Lake area. A settler who was held captive there believed Dewdney was partly to blame. She said Dewdney had made many promises about food and aid during a visit, but these promises were not kept. While the massacre cannot be directly linked to Dewdney's broken promises, it is clear that the lack of government help during a crisis made conditions worse.
Aftermath of the Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion ended on June 3, 1885. Afterward, Dewdney took steps to improve security on reserves to prevent future rebellions. He believed that everyone involved in the rebellion should be punished. He supported long jail sentences and even executions, including that of Louis Riel.
Dewdney believed that the future of Indigenous communities lay with the younger generation. He supported closing day schools and creating Indian residential schools. He thought children needed to be removed from their families' influence to become "model citizens" and prevent future rebellions. These schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian society. They operated until 1996, funded by the Canadian government and run by the Catholic church. Indigenous children faced severe physical and emotional abuse in these schools, and the trauma continues to affect Indigenous communities today.
Indigenous Relations
The expansion of settlers westward caused more tension between Indigenous peoples and the government. Metis and other Indigenous groups were affected by new land settlement methods. The Metis did not trust Dewdney because of his control over the land being settled. New settlers pushed Metis out of Manitoba, and the surveying of Metis land for these new settlers created more conflict, which Dewdney did not fully address.
Sometimes, Dewdney did act as a mediator in land disputes. For example, in 1879, he helped resolve a dispute between the Sacree and Blackfeet nations over flour rations. The Sacree needed to move to Fort MacLeod to avoid starvation but were concerned about the Blackfeet already being there. Dewdney helped them reach an agreement.
In the early 1880s, some Indigenous groups raided ranches for cattle and horses. This was linked to the loss of buffalo and the food crisis. These raids sometimes crossed into the United States, causing tension with Americans. In response, Dewdney created a permit system in 1882. This allowed groups like the Blackfeet and Assiniboine to cross the border for hunting, visiting relatives, or leisure. Dewdney also supported moving Indigenous groups from the southern prairies to reserves north of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) line. This plan disrupted groups who were following the remaining buffalo across the border. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were told to use force if groups tried to move north. Dewdney later claimed that there were no more Indigenous peoples north of the CPR line, which allowed the railway to continue building westward.
Dewdney also supported enforcing the Indian Act to remove Indigenous chiefs. This was meant to help the colonial government maintain power in local communities by removing Indigenous leadership and self-governance. People who rejected government policy were sometimes arrested and called "bad Indians."
Criticism
Dewdney has been criticized for how he handled justice. He reportedly held back food rations from the Cree, which some believed led to more violence among them.
Dewdney was known for making many promises to Indigenous peoples that raised their hopes, but he often did not keep these promises. During the North-West Rebellion, Dewdney held two powerful positions: Indian Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor of the North-West Territories. This gave him a lot of power, and some believed he misused it to achieve his goals. He was criticized for not responding to requests for food relief from Metis, Assiniboine, and Cree communities in the winter of 1882-1883. This lack of response was seen by some as a way to force Indigenous peoples onto reserves.
There were also concerns that the Department of Indian Affairs, its agents, and Dewdney had secret dealings with a company called I.G. Baker Company. People worried that the Department bought poor quality goods to give to the Metis during the food crisis. The Hudson's Bay Company claimed that Dewdney and other officials were linked to this company and were profiting from the crisis. Flour supplied by the Baker Company was found to be unfit for eating and caused deaths on several reserves. An investigation confirmed the flour was substandard, which reflected badly on Dewdney because of his connection to the company.
Additionally, there were reports that Dewdney and other agents used food as a way to control Indigenous peoples on reserves, who were often dependent on these agents.
Life After the Rebellion
Dewdney did not enjoy living in the North-West Territories. He found the land bleak and the climate harsh. He also suffered from severe back pain, which made traveling on horseback difficult. His wife, Jane, also wished to return to British Columbia.
After the North-West Rebellion, Dewdney asked for political appointments outside the North-West. On September 12, 1888, he was named Minister of the Interior and Superintendent General of Indian Affairs. He was then appointed Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia on November 2, 1892, and retired on December 1, 1897.
After retiring from politics, Dewdney focused on business. He had managed his personal finances poorly throughout his life and lacked a pension to support him in old age. He also worked on surveying projects for proposed railways in British Columbia. His wife Jane died in January 1909, and he remarried Blanche Elizabeth Plantagenet Kemeys-Tynte later that year. Money continued to be a problem for Dewdney until his death. He tried to get a Senate appointment and a pension, but he never received either. Edgar Dewdney passed away on August 8, 1916, in Victoria, British Columbia, at the age of eighty.
Honours
Edgar Dewdney was given the title "the Honourable" and the letters "PC" (for Queen's Privy Council for Canada) for life. This happened on September 25, 1888, because he became a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.
Legacy
- A major east-west street in Regina, Dewdney Avenue, is named after him. Government House, the original territorial government building, and the local RCMP detachment are on this avenue.
- Dewdney, British Columbia is a community east of Mission, British Columbia. It is located below Dewdney Peak on the north shore of the Fraser River. The community was also the namesake of a former provincial electoral district.
- The Dewdney Trunk Road was one of the earliest main roads in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Today, parts of it exist in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam and it is a major road between Maple Ridge and Mission.
- The Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary in Saskatchewan was established in 1887 based on Dewdney's recommendation. It was the first wildlife reserve of its kind in North America and was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1987.
Images for kids
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First Government House shortly after construction in 1883.
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Lady Jane Dewdney (nee' Jane Shaw Moir)
See also
