Collection search - Cowan, Mary Margaret; wife of Albert Cowan; claim no. 239; address: Prince Albert; born: 15 July, 1880 at Prince Albert; father: Nicholas Bird (Métis); mother: Mary Halcro (Métis); scrip cert.: form C, no. 321 for $240.00 = Cowan, Mary Margaret; épouse d'Albert Cowan; no de réclamation 239; résidence: Prince Albert; née: le 15 juillet 1880 à Prince Albert; père: Nicholas Bird (Métis); mère: Mary Halcro (Métisse); certificat: formulaire C, no 321 au montant de 240$

Scrip was a certificate issued by the Department of the Interior which indicated the right of the holder to receive payment later in the form of money or land. The federal government distributed scrip to the Métis in exchange for their land rights, as a method of extinguishing their Aboriginal title to the land. The federal government also used scrip to distribute land to white settlers, including Original White Settlers, soldiers, and police who fought in the North West Resistance of 1885 (or North West Rebellion of 1885).