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 o ...

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

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (french: Assemblée législative du Manitoba) is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly at provincial gener ...

as a

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

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

Pascal Breland Pascal Breland was a famous 19th-century pre-confederation Canadian Métis farmer and politician. 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 po ...

and Maria Grant. He was the grandson of

Cuthbert Grant Cuthbert James Grant (1793 – July 15, 1854) was a prominent Métis people (Canada), Métis leader of the early 19th century. His father was also called Cuthbert Grant. Life Cuthbert James Grant was born in 1793 at Fort Tremblant, a North We ...

. 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 (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...

and served as reeve for the

Rural Municipality of St. François Xavier The Rural Municipality of St. François Xavier is a rural municipality in Manitoba, Canada, lying west-northwest of Winnipeg. It is part of the Central Plains Region as well as the Winnipeg Metro Region. It had a population of 1,411 in the 2016 ce ...

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, and describes itself as "the oldest organization in western Canada devoted to the ...

, the two had 7 children: Tobie, Alexandre, Alfred, Dolphis, Edmond, Josephine, and Virginia; however, an article by

Lawrence J. Barkwell Lawrence J. Barkwell (born 1943 – 26 September 2019) was a Canadian author, editor, historian and lecturer, best known for his comprehensive writings on the Métis Nation and Culture. He served as senior historian at Manitoba Métis Federation� ...

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 Reeve may refer to: Titles *Reeve (Canada), an elected chief executive of some counties, townships, and equivalents *Reeve (England), an official elected annually by the serfs to supervise lands for a lord *High-reeve, a title taken by some Englis ...

for the

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'' (french: link=no, Loi de 1870 sur le Manitoba)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 Pro ...

'', the

Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia The Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia (french: Assemblée législative d'Assiniboine) 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 ...

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

bicameral Bicameralism is a type of legislature, one divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate and vote as a single grou ...

style government. After leaving

Fort Garry Fort Garry, also known as Upper Fort Garry, was a Hudson's Bay Company trading post at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in what is now downtown Winnipeg. It was established in 1822 on or near the site of the North West Company's ...

, 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 Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs Canadian Métis people Métis politicians

Personal life

Political career

Manitoba Act

See also

References