James Sinclair became the "village Hampden" who stood for his rights and those of his compeers.
It was at this juncture that the valuable aid of Isbister came to his countrymen.

In 1847 Isbister, with his educated mind, social standing, and valiant spirit led the way for his people, and with five other half-breeds of Red River forwarded a long and able memorial to Earl Grey, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, bringing the serious charges against the Company, of neglecting the native people, oppressing all the settlers, and taking from them their natural rights.

A perusal of this document leads us to the opinion that the charges were exaggerated, but nevertheless they showed how impossible it was, for a Trading Company, to be at the same time the Government of a country and to be equitable and high-minded.

The Hudson's Bay Company answered this document sent them by the Imperial Government, and so far relieved themselves of some of the charges.

But the storm raised could not be quieted.