177- The Nor'-Westers oppose the Selkirk settlement-
And now to return to the struggling colony upon the banks 
of the Red River. The Nor'-Westers, as the members of the 
North-West Company were called, looked upon the new-
comers as intruders. They suspected that Lord Selkirk, 
being  a share holder in the Hudson's Bay Company, had 
planted this colony to interfere with the Canadian traders. 
They were alarmed at the activity of  Selkirk,  by whom many
of the Nor'-Westers were persuaded to enter the service of 
the Hudson's Bay Company. 



Image:
FORT DOUGLAS ON THE RED RIVER


 The early years brought trying experiences to the Selkirk
settlers. They spent the winters at Pembina hunting the 
buffalo Each spring they returned to the junction of the Red
and Assiniboine Rivers to sow their patches of grain. 
Food became so scarce that the governor, Miles Macdonell, 
gave an order that "no provisions, flesh, fish, grain, or 
vegetables, were to be taken out of the lands of the 
settlement for a year." Nothing more was needed to bring 
the hostility of the Nor'-Westers to the point of violence.
Angered by Macdonell's order, the partners gathered at Fort
William, the Nor'-Westers' headquarters.  Plans were quickly
laid for breaking up the Selkirk colony. To accomplish this
object two of the partners were sent to Fort Gibraltar, a
North-West Company's post situated half a mile from the 
settlement. By threats or bribes many of the settlers were 
persuaded to leave the colony. A band of half-breeds, gathered
by one of the Nor'-Westers, made an attack upon the settlement.
The settlers were forced to flee for safety to the north end 
of Lake Winnipeg. 
 Great was the joy of the Nor'-Westers at Fort William.  
Yet almost immediately came the news that the colonists had 
returned reinforced by another band of immigrants.   With 
the new  arrivals  came  Robert Semple, appointed to control
all the factories of Rupert's Land. Mearwhile, Lord Selkirk
had arrived in Canada. Hearing at Montreal of the misfortunes
of his colonists, he was all eagerness to bear them aid. 
He at once engaged the services of a hundred discharged 
soldiers and set out for the West. 
 While Lord Selkirk was still upon the way, stirring events
were happening in the Red River valley.  The Nor'-Westers
again planned to destroy the Selkirk settlement.  Half-breeds
were summoned from west and no~  By the middle of June, 1816,
a strong band gathered at Portage La Prairie, under the
popular leader,. Cuthbert Grant.  When Governor Semple was inform-

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