Map Description: 1875 North West Territory
A visual analysis of the historical lithograph by John Johnston.
This historical map, titled "Map of part of the North West Territory including the Province of Manitoba," provides a detailed look at the Canadian West during a period of rapid colonial transition.
- Geographic Scope: Covers the expansive terrain stretching from Lake Superior in the east to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the west.
- Treaty Boundaries: Features distinct color-coding to delineate land tracts ceded under Indian Treaties 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- Topographical Features: Includes intricate renderings of major river systems (Saskatchewan and Assiniboine), lakes, and early frontier settlements.
- Political Context: Produced before Alberta’s provincial establishment, the map illustrates the North-West Territories under early Canadian administrative expansion.
Alberta Historical Context (1875)
While the province was not officially formed until 1905, 1875 was a landmark year for the region:
| Event | Significance |
|---|---|
| The Founding of Calgary | The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) established a post at the Bow and Elbow Rivers, officially naming it Fort Calgary by year's end. |
| North-West Territories Act | Parliament passed this act to create a formal government and judicial framework, effectively ending the lawless "whiskey trade" era. |
| Environmental Shift | 1875 marked a devastating decline in buffalo populations, fundamentally altering the lives and economies of the Blackfoot and other Indigenous nations. |