page_title: History of the Northwest Territories
section_title: 1850–1870
hierarchical_section_title: History of the Northwest Territories / Pre-Confederation history / 1850–1870
context_page_description: The history of the Northwest Territories begins with the population of the region by First Nations peoples, and proceeds through the transformation of it into provinces and territories of the nation of Canada, including the modern administrative unit of the Northwest Territories. When Europeans settlers began to divide the continent, the Northwest Territories included much of the sparsely populated regions of what is now western Canada. Over time, the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba were formed out of the territories. In 1898, the Yukon territory became a separate entity and in 1999 Nunavut was formed from the eastern section.
context_section_description: Northwest Territories delayed entering confederation due to the Red River Rebellion. As a result, the province of Manitoba was created. Both jurisdictions entered confederation in 1870.
  The territories were purchased from the Hudson's Bay Company.
  On July 15, 1870, Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory were ceded to Canada, and became the North-West Territories; a small square of this was made into the province of Manitoba. On July 20, 1871, British Columbia joined as a province.
caption: Map of the provinces and territories of Canada as they were from 1870 to 1871.
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