The Song of the Bois-Brûlés

Of all the testimonies recounting the events at Seven Oaks on June 19th, 1816, Pierre Falcon’s song has undoubtedly captivated historians the most over the years. Often called the national anthem of the Bois-Brûlés, it is known by many titles: “The Song of the Bois-Brûlés”, “The Victory of the Bois-Brûlés”, “The Battle of Seven Oaks”, “The Song of Pierrich' Falcon” and “La Grenouillère”, among others. According to oral tradition, the song was composed the very night of that armed confrontation, while the Métis, encamped in a location known as Frog Plain (or “La Grenouillère”), gathered and celebrated their victory over the Hudson's Bay Company employees and the inhabitants of Selkirk’s colony. Pierre Falcon, employee of the North West Company and brother-in-law of Métis leader Cuthbert Grant, is credited as the composer of the words and tune of this ballad.

In 1816, Pierre Falcon, a young twenty-three-year-old Métis man, was already somewhat famous in the colony for his poetry of varying quality. He would one day be the subject of a number of studies on Canadian folklore and the West’s first singers and songwriters. One of Pierre Falcon’s first biographies, written by Joseph Tassé, was published in his 1878 book Les Canadiens de l’Ouest (“The Canadians of the West”). Clearly sympathetic to the Métis cause, the account nevertheless presents a good insight into the “prince of the plains” who was able to put his observations on important events into verse.

Father Pierre Picton, an indefatigable researcher, would later study the genealogy and history of the Falcon family, which permitted him to bring some other biographies into question, such as the one appearing in A.-G. Morice’s Dictionnaire historique des Canadiens et des Métis français (“Historical Dictionary of French Canadians and Métis”). Father Picton also succeeded in establishing a well-documented Falcon family tree. The lyrics and melody became so popular among the Métis, it was passed down as an oral tradition for more than 150 years. In 1866, it was published by Dr. Hubert Larue in Le Foyer canadien : recueil littéraire et historique (“The Canadian Hearth: Literary and Historical Collection”), the most popular weekly French language publication in Canada’s rural regions. The author claimed to have written the lyrics as dictated directly by voyageurs from Western Canada. This version of Falcon’s song was reprinted in 1914 in Les Cloches de Saint-Boniface (“The Bells of Saint-Boniface”), a publication of the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface.

Over the 20th century, researchers were able to collect fifteen versions of the lyrics from all over Canada. However, the eleven couplets that appeared in Larue’s text were confirmed as the definitive version of the “Song” by the efforts of multiple researchers. These include the aforementioned Father Picton, as well as historian Margaret Complin and Martial Allard who wrote his master’s thesis on Pierre Falcon. These lyrics give a unique first-hand testimony of the events of June 19th, 1816.

During the 1930’s, Margaret Complin corresponded with Father Picton in the hopes of finding a lead to the original music of Pierre Falcon’s song. Father Picton therefore took the first steps of organizing interviews with the songwriter’s grandchildren, as well as whoever else had memories of the song, and transcribed the lyrics and music of the various versions. The minor variations in the melody from one part of the province to another is certainly a feature of our oral heritage. Mrs. Complin published the fruits of her research in collaboration with Father Picton in an article appearing in the Winnipeg Tribune in July, 1938 and in a paper given to the Royal Society of Canada the following year.

Due to a renewal of interest in the age of the voyageurs and Métis heritage among Franco- Manitobans, the “Song of the Bois-Brûlés” has been featured in a variety of historical productions. Among other songs by Pierre Falcon, it was an integral part of the folk concert Au pays des Bois-Brûlés (“In the Country of the Bois-Brûlés”), which was presented in 1977 by students in Saint Boniface University College’s French-Canadian Literature course. In 1994, Pierre Falcon appeared as a character played by Ronald Valois in Marcien Ferland’s historical drama Le Voyageur. The song, when sung by the actor, brought the early 19th century’s eventful, remarkable history to life.

1. Prud’homme, L.-A. « L’engagement des Sept Chênes », Proceedings and transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, Series III, Vol. XII, 1918. 2. Ibid.

Pierre Falcon

Photograph of a painting depicting Pierre Falcon, “Bard of the Red River”, artist unknown.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, SHSB 2698

Francis Falcon

Francis Falcon, center, also known as Poule d'eau (Cingipis or Chinguipis), son of Jean-Baptiste Falcon and Marie Nolin, grandson of Métis songwriter Pierre Falcon (1796-1876), accompanied by Fathers de l’Étoile and Picton, circa 1941. Born in 1861, Francis had known his grandfather and heard him sing “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”) in his old age.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, 635

Julie Lilley (née Falcon)

Julie Lilley née Falcon, (right) granddaughter of Pierre Falcon, accompanied by her sister-in-law Marguerite Falcon née l’Espérance (centre) and Julie Dumas (left) in 1941. Julie Falcon was one of the descendants of the poet Pierre who were able to provide versions of the famous “Song”, sung as they had heard it directly from the composer himself.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, 509

Version of the Song Sung by Pierre Falcon’s Family

These versions of the song, collected and transcribed by Father Picton, are the ones sung by Pierre Falcon’s descendants.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, Série sujets, 1/304/20 Version of the Song Sung by Joseph “Canada” Vandal

Version of “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”), also called “The Song of the Bois- Brûlés” sung by Joseph “Canada” Vandal from Lorette.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, Série sujets, 1/304/19 Version of the Song Sung by Mrs. Norman Ouelette née Proulx

The version of “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”) sung by Mrs. Norman Ouelette née Proulx, which she learned from her aunt Marie, Mrs. Édouard Payette née Proulx. This version was sung between 1870 and 1900 in the regions surrounding Carman and Saint- Daniel.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, Série sujets, 1/304/18 Version of the Song Sung by Antoine and Arthur Gagnier

Antoine and Arthur Gagnier learned this version of “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”) they sang from one Vaudry from Saint-Norbert

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, Série sujets, 1/304/21 Version of the Song Sung by Raymond Blanchette

Version of “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”) sung by Raymond Blanchette, which he learned by heart indirectly from Pierre’s grandson Cuthbert Falcon. Other variations would be sung to the tune of “Cavalier de la Prairie” (“Prairie Rider”)

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, Série sujets, 1/304/23 Definitive Version of “Chanson de la Grenouillère”

Following numerous interviews, Father Pierre Picton was able to establish a definitive version of “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”). Particularly noteworthy is the phonetic spelling of the lyrics, which reflects the Mitchif language spoken by the people with whom the researcher conversed.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, Série sujets, 1/9/304/36 Cover of the Souvenir Booklet from the "Au pays des Bois-Brûlés" Show

Cover of the souvenir booklet from the “Au pays des Bois-Brûlés” (“In the Country of the Bois- Brûlés”), a show presented by students in Saint Boniface University College’s French-Canadian literature course in February, 1977. Songs from Pierre Falcon featured on the program, including “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”)

Au pays des Bois-Brûlés, Saint Boniface University College, 1977

Poster for Marcien Ferland’s Historical Drama Le voyageur

Poster for Marcien Ferland’s historical drama Le Voyageur, presented by the Festival du Voyageur in collaboration with the Centre culturel franco-manitobain in 1994. The character of Pierre Falcon sings his own composition in the play.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, Fonds Festival du Voyageur, Série grands formats, 205/G24/14

Family Tree Showing Pierre Falcon’s Ancestors and Descendants

A family tree showing Pierre Flacon’s ancestors and descendants, made by Father Picton and based on extensive research.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, Série sujets, 1/299/6

Lyrics of « Chanson de la Grenouillère »

Article printed in the March 15, 1914 issue of Les Cloches de Saint-Boniface, in which the lyrics of “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”) are reproduced as recorded by Dr. Larue and published in Le Foyer canadien in 1863.

“La Chanson de la Grenouillère.” Les Cloches de Saint-Boniface 13, 6 (March 15 1914): 75-76 Letter from Margaret Complin, Dated March 15, 1937

This letter written by Margaret Complin and dated March 15th, 1937 is part of a long correspondence between the Regina historian and researcher Pierre Picton, who were looking for the melody of “The Song of the Bois-Brûlés” together.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, General Collection of the SHSB, Série sujets, 1/303/1 Article on Pierre Falcon and his “Chanson de la Grenouillère” by Margaret Complin

An article on Pierre Falcon and his “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”) by Margaret Complin, appearing in the Winnipeg Tribune on July 9th, 1938.

Margaret Complin, « Pierre Falcon – the Singer of the Plains », The Winnipeg Tribune, 9 juillet 1938, p. 3 “La chanson de la Grenouillère”

La chanson de la Grenouillère

Voulez vous écouter chanter, Une chanson de vérité :

(Literal: “Do you want to hear it sung, a song of truth”)

Article printed in the March 15, 1914 issue of Les Cloches de Saint-Boniface, in which the lyrics of “Chanson de la Grenouillère” (“Song of Frog Plain”) are reproduced as recorded by Dr. Larue and published in Le Foyer canadien in 1863.

“La Chanson de la Grenouillère.” Les Cloches de Saint-Boniface 13, 6 (March 15 1914): 75-76

Pierre Falcon

Pierre Falcon

Joseph Tassé gave Pierre Falcon his own article in his 1878 work Les Canadiens de l’Ouest (“The Canadians of the West”)

« Pierre Falcon », in Joseph Tassé, Les Canadiens de l’Ouest, second volume, Montréal, Cie d’imprimerie canadienne, 1878, p. 339-51

An Interview with Mélanie Falcon

Interview avec Mélanie Falcon

Excerpt from an interview with Mélanie Falcon-Breland, Pierre Falcon’s 94-year-old great- granddaughter, hosted by Simon Boivin on the program “Gens du Pays” broadcast on September 5th, 1974 by the Société Radio-Canada’s Winnipeg station, CKSB.

Archives of the Société historique de Saint-Boniface, Fonds Simon Boivin, Cassette C16 or Fonds of the Société Radio-Canada, Productions Enregistrements sonores, Émissions régulières, Gens de mon pays, 5 September 1974, SRC WINNIPEG DAT 12