DCHP-1 Online

scrip Hist.

• 1a † n. a government certificate which entitled the holder to locate on a stated amount of public land.

  See also: land-scrip (def. 1)  

  • 1850  Some years ago, the plan was adopted of issuing scrip in settlement of these claims, which was made transferable, and entitled holders to land at the current value for the amount borne on its face.
  • 1954  With his family using their homestead rights, plus a scrip or two of a half-section each, they could gain a big farm for an expenditure of a comparatively little besides their labour

• 1b n. a certificate issued following the Northwest Rebellions to Metis as compensation for lost lands and entitling the bearer to 240 acres.

  See also: land-scrip (def. 2)  

  • 1878  (1963)  . . . the half-breed, having no idea whatsoever of thrift, or of the necessity of making provision for the future by locating his scrip and securing the land for the benefit of his family, would, as our experience in Manitoba proves beyond all doubt, sell the scrip for whatever he could get for it, which in most cases would be a mere trifle.
  • 1885  The volunteers will now be able to draw their scrip and sell it for $40 and get themselves a new suit.
  • 1956  Script was a certificate given all half-breeds, born before 1885, upon request. It was transferable for about 240 acres of land, The federal government inaugurated the system in 1889 on the recommendation of a royal commission that studies the restless condition of the half-breeds in the West.
  • 1957  Judge Buchanan listed three reasons why this protest was "a nullity" from the start. . . . They charged "forebearers " of the 122 [Indians] in question took "script" rather than "scrip," which is the proper spelling.

• 2 n. Hist. a certificate issued following the Northwest Rebellions to Métis as compensation for lost lands and entitling the bearer to the sum of $240.00, either in cash or as an allowance against the purchase of government lands.

  See also: money-scrip  Métis  

  • 1885  The scrip called for by this certificate, amounting to $240, will be payable to bearer, will specify the name of the person in whose favor it is granted . . . said scrip will be accepted at par in payment of Dominion lands.
  • 1929  The Scrip, when issued, would at once be thrown on the market, bought for next to nothing and a great amount of money put into circulation.
  • 1956  To métis children born before July, 1870, was given the choice between a "scrip" valued at $240, which they could either negotiate or use for the purchase of federal lands, and a "land scrip" which authorized them to pick out a piece of property of 240 acres on unoccupied Dominion lands.