~1870~

The Riel Rebellion of 1869-1870 was the first of the two conflicts that had occurred in Western Canada. Inspired by the leadership of Metis leader Louis Riel, concern over Indigenous cultural identity and was one of the primary concerns the uprising

The struggle officially began in December 1869, where the arrival of William McDougal, a famed Canadian expansionist and surveyor and first appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Manitoba territory, fueled the tensions and did little to quell the fears of creeping English domination and Metis subordination. The conflict escalated with the capture and execution of Thomas Scott, sparking outrage from Protestants in Ontario, and locally Peel newspapers covered the story of Thomas Scott and the escalating tensions in the west. Local papers, including the Brampton Conservator and the Streetsville Review were fairly neutral towards Louis Riel and the rebellion until the murder of Scott, prompting a widespread call for justice. An expedition was led by British Colonel Garnet Wolseley and consisted of a volunteer force of men from various militia companies in Ontario and Quebec. There were calls for volunteers locally, but it is currently unknown if anyone from historic Mississauga joined the Wolseley Expedition. The 1870 Riel Rebellion was resolved peacefully once Colonel Garnet Wolseley and his forces had arrived at Fort Garry, ending the amnesty and exile of Louis Riel.