Patrice Breland (March 17, 1837 – April 3, 1908) was a fur trader and political figure in

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

. He represented St. Francois Xavier from 1879 to 1883 in the

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba () is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly at List of Manitoba genera ...

as a

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

. He was born in St. Francois Xavier, Manitoba, the son of

Pascal Breland Pascal Breland was a 19th-century Métis farmer and politician in Rupert's Land. He was a well-known Metis trader and was popularly nicknamed "le Roi des traiteurs" (The King of the traders). He held several appointed political positions as well a ...

and Maria Grant. He was the grandson of

Cuthbert Grant Cuthbert "James" Grant (1793 – July 15, 1854) was a Métis leader of the early 19th century who participated in the Pemmican War as an employee of the North West Company. Life Cuthbert Grant was born in about 1793 at Fort de la Rivière Tr ...

. Patrice was one of the many who signed the Cypress Hills Métis Hunting Brigade Petition in 1878. He was a justice of the peace for the

North West Territories The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately and a 2021 census population of 41,070, it is the second-largest and the most populous of the three territories in Northern Canada. Its estimated pop ...

and served as reeve for the Rural Municipality of St. François Xavier from 1891 to 1892 and from 1895 to 1900.

Personal life

Patrice Breland was born in St. Francois Xavier, Manitoba, on 17 March 1837, to French-Métis leader and government diplomat

and Maria Grant. Maria Grant, daughter of

, came from a wealthy family; Pascal became a very wealthy man due to all that he inherited after the passing of Cuthbert Grant in 1854. In 1863, Patrice married Helen Dease, with whom he had several children. According to the

Manitoba Historical Society The Manitoba Historical Society is a historical society in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1879 by an act of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba () is the deliberative assembly of the Mani ...

, the two had 7 children: Tobie, Alexandre, Alfred, Dolphis, Edmond, Josephine, and Virginia; however, an article by Lawrence J. Barkwell claims that the two had 11 children: Marie Rose, Marguerite, Patrice Tobie, Lucie, Emelie, Virginie, Marie Alexandre, Alfred, Patrice, Josephine, and Joseph Edmund. Breland died in St. Francois Xavier at the age of 71.

Political career

Patrice was one of the many who signed the Cypress Hills Métis Hunting Brigade Petition in 1878. He was also a justice of the peace for the

and served as reeve for the Rural Municipality of St. François Xavier from 1891 to 1892 and from 1895 to 1900.

Manitoba Act

During the time of the creation of the ''

Manitoba Act The ''Manitoba Act, 1870'' ()Originally entitled (until renamed in 1982) ''An Act to amend and continue the Act 32 and 33 Victoria, chapter 3; and to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of Manitoba.'' is an act of the Parli ...

'', the

Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia The Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia () was a short-lived legislature established to pass laws for the North-Western Territory and Rupert's Land under the provisional government led by Louis Riel from 1869 to 1870. The Legislative Assembly was n ...

was deciding between a unicameral or bicameral style of government. Decisions were leaning towards a

bicameral Bicameralism is a type of legislature that is divided into two separate Deliberative assembly, assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate ...

style government. After leaving

Fort Garry Fort Garry, also known as Upper Fort Garry, was a Hudson's Bay Company trading post located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in or near the area now known as The Forks in what is now central Winnipeg, Manitoba. Fort Garr ...

, the ''Manitoba Act'' continued to be in review and the idea of having a Senate was discussed. Throughout this discussion of a Senate, a possible structure and possible candidates were mentioned. Patrice Breland was amongst the list of possible candidates for the Senate.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Breland, Patrice 1837 births 1908 deaths People from Rupert's Land Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs Canadian Métis people Métis politicians 19th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba

Personal life

Political career

Manitoba Act

See also

References