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What happened during the Seven Oaks Massacre of 1816?

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The Seven Oaks Massacre, which occurred on June 19, 1816, was a violent confrontation between the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) and the North West Company (NWC) near the Red River Settlement in present-day Manitoba.12

The conflict arose from intense competition over the fur trade and land usage in the region. A group of approximately 60 Métis men, led by NWC employee Cuthbert Grant, were transporting provisions when they encountered a party of about 25 soldiers and settlers led by Robert Semple, the governor of the HBC’s territories.13

During the ensuing fight at a site known as Seven Oaks, Governor Semple and 20 of his men were killed, while the Métis lost only one man. Following the battle, the remaining settlers were forced to abandon the colony under threat of further violence. Although the Red River colony was temporarily destroyed, it was restored the following year. Many historians view this event as a pivotal moment that helped foster a unified Métis identity in the Canadian West.13