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 as elected offices, with his work and influence playing a key role in shaping the identity of Western Canadian provinces as they exist today.

Personal life Breland was born on June 15, 1811, in the Saskatchewan Valley in the Northwest Territories (today in the province of Saskatchewan). He was baptized at Laval, Quebec on November 19, 1812. His father, Pierre Berland dit Duboishu, was a French-Canadian Voyageur, hunter and trader. His mother, Marie Louise Josephe Bilideau (or Beledau), was of mixed French and First Nations ancestry. In the late 1820s, Pascal moved to the town St. François Xavier, Manitoba, from Quebec. There, on February 8, 1836, Pascal married Maria Grant (1820-1889), daughter of Cuthbert Grant. Pascal and Maria had fourteen children:

Patrice Breland (1837-1908) Cycle Breland (1838-1842) Marie "Judith" Breland (1841-1907) — wife of Casimir Dauphinais, the son of Francois Dauphinais Thomas Breland (1842-1876) Elisabeth Breland (1844-1846) Marguerite Breland (1846-?) Luxine "Lucie" Breland (1848-1907) Clemence Breland (1849-?) — wife of Firmin Hamelin, the son of Salomon Hamelin; Clemence and Firmin were parents to Joseph Hamelin Placidee Breland (1851-1870) Elisabeth "Eliza/Laiza" Breland (1853-1921) Josue Breland (1855-?) Pascal Napoleon Breland (1857-1861) Gregoire Breland (1859-?) Marie Justine Breland (1861-?)

Breland died on October 24, 1896;

Raised with the combined knowledge of fur traders and various First Nations peoples, Metis had a way of life that made them especially apt to dominate the pre-confederation plains economy. Breland gained land and notoriety through his farming ability, but also is rumored to have run an illegal side business trading in the region without the approval of the monopolistic Hudson's Bay Company. Trusted by First Nations bands in the West, Breland was often sent as a messenger or negotiator in political or legal collaborations. In 1851, Breland was appointed magistrate for White Horse Plains. Many of Pascal Breland's peers and contemporaries were members of the Provisional Metis Government. Pierre Delorme is featured back row second from left.

Northwest Territories politician Breland served two long terms as a politician in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. He was first appointed to the Temporary North-West Council on December 28, 1872. Appointed by Adams G. Archibald who was the first lieutenant-governor of Manitoba & NWT as members of the Executive & Legislative councils for Rupert's Land and the North Western Territory, he served this position alongside fellow Metis Pierre Delorme. He served on the council until it was dissolved in 1876. He was re-appointed two years later on July 10, 1878, to serve on the 1st Council of the Northwest Territories. His re-appointment made him the only member of the original council to be re-appointed. He was re-appointed to the council due to demands of the Métis for government representation. Breland was the only member to reside from outside the territories during that period. In total he served 15 years as an appointed member.