The first attempt at creating the council came with the appointment of Francis Godschall Johnson by Lieutenant Governor Adams George Archibald on October 21, 1870.

[citation needed] Less than a full calendar year later and despite only being allowed up to fifteen seats, appointments to the council exceeded that limit during the second round in October 1873.

William J. Christie resigned his seat in 1873 and Robert Cunningham was the only member of the council to die in office on July 4, 1874.

In addition to the death of Cunningham, the first secretary of the North-West Council William T. Urquhart died at his home on September 24, 1874.

[6] In regards to infrastructure, the council passed regulations securing public rights-of-way including roads and waterways.

[7] The council banned the importation and manufacture of spirituous liquors and passed a motion to recommend the creation of the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP).

[6] The purpose behind the ban was to prevent settlers from trading alcohol to native populations, with the NWMP created to enforce the prohibition.

[6] The council implemented legislation to provide training programs and equipment to teach Indigenous people agricultural practices.

This was also a further measure to encourage Indigenous populations to adopt agricultural practices using programs that had been previously implemented by the government.

The magistrates were given the option of referring cases of an unusual nature to the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba.

[9] This court system played a major role in the development and history of the 1st Council of the Northwest Territories.

The throne speech outlined the need for regulation of the buffalo hunt, and peaceful and orderly settlement to the territory, and highlighted past legislative achievements of the council.