''You may be looking for
La Colle, Monaco, a district of the Principality of Monaco.''
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'La Colle', (
fl.
1736 –
1742) was a
Swampy Cree chief who is known in Canadian history for this period because of the writings of
La Vérendrye.
In the fall of 1731, construction began on
Fort St. Pierre at the west end of
Rainy Lake near the mouth of
Rainy River. This was carried out by La Verendrye's nephew,
Christopher Dufrost de La Jemeraye and his eldest son,
Jean Baptiste de La Vérendrye over the winter of 1731-32. La Colle's main village was located in the vicinity of the fort.
La Colle was a chief with influence among the Monsonis, his own group of Swampy Cree, and also with other
Crees and
Assiniboine further west along the exploration route.
Fort St. Charles, on
Lake of the Woods was built in 1732, putting the explorer in closer contact with the Sioux. The La Vérendrye's did not want war between tribes and La Colle was largely able to keep the peace. However, he led at least one war party in 1741 where many Sioux were killed and captured. Father
Claude-Godefroy Coquart, who was wintering at
Fort Kaministiquia, noted that more slaves than furs would be shipped to Montreal that season because of this event.
It would appear that La Colle played a significant role in protecting La Vérendrye during his exploration and trade westward.
External links
★
Biography at ''the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''
★
Metis Culture 1741-1742