Pierre Falcon facts for kids

Pierre Falcon (born June 4, 1793 – died October 21, 1876) was a famous Métis fur trader and musician. People sometimes called him Pierriche, which means 'Pierre the rhymer.' He lived in what is now Manitoba, Canada.

A lake in Manitoba, called Falcon Lake, is named after him. It is located in Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Growing Up

Pierre Falcon was born on June 4, 1793. His birthplace was Somerset House, also known as Elbow Fort. This place is in the Swan River Valley in Manitoba.

His father, Pierre Jean-Baptiste Falcon, worked as a fur trader. He was a clerk for the North West Company. His mother was a Cree woman. Her father was named Pas au Traverse.

When Pierre was a child, he moved to La Prairie, Lower Canada. He was baptized in L’Acadie, Quebec, in 1798. While in Quebec, he lived with family members. He learned how to read and write there.

Family Life

In 1808, when Pierre was 15, he returned to Manitoba. He started working as a clerk for the North West Company. In 1812, he married a woman named Marie. She was the sister of a Métis leader, Cuthbert Grant.

Pierre and Marie had ten children together. They had four sons and six daughters. Pierre was a successful rancher and supported his family. One of his sons, Jean Baptiste Falcon, became a leader. He led the buffalo hunters from St. François Xavier. In 1851, he helped defend their camp. This happened during the Battle of Grand Coteau (North Dakota) against the Sioux.

Famous Songs

Pierre Falcon was a talented composer and singer. In 1816, when he was 23, he wrote a famous song. It was called La Chanson de la Grenouillère. This song celebrated a Métis victory. This was the Battle of Seven Oaks.

The song became very popular among the Métis people. It was still sung 150 years later. It was also published in books. It appeared in Le Foyer canadien in 1866. Later, it was in Les Cloches de Saint-Boniface in 1914.

Later Years

Pierre Falcon continued to work for the North West Company. This was until it joined with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821. He worked for the new company until 1825.

After that, his family moved to Grantown. This place is now known as Saint-François-Xavier. Many other Métis families also moved there. They were led by Cuthbert Grant.

In 1855, Pierre Falcon became a local magistrate. This meant he helped make decisions about local laws. He passed away on October 21, 1876. His wife, Marie, died a year later.