Great Woman: Chipeta of the Uncompahgre Ute, 1843-1924
Behind or alongside every strong man is an equally strong woman. Chipeta, or White Singing Bird, the wife of Chief Ouray of the Uncompahgre Ute was one such example.
Chipeta, 1843-1924, was born a Kiowa-Apache. Shortly after her birth, she was taken in by the Uncompahgre Ute tribe and raised as one of them. In 1859, she married Ouray. She quickly became his most respected confidant and advisor. A kindly and intelligent woman who was perceptive to the people and situations around her, she often sat with her husband in tribal council meetings. A beautiful woman who was renowned for her beadwork, she could also step in when matters threatened to get out of hand. When her brother attempted to assassinated Ouray, he grabbed his knife to defend himself. Chipeta seized the sheath and the knife out of her husband's hand, saving her brother's life, but also saving Ouray from any possible repercussions from her family.
Chipeta acted to prevent bloodshed between Settlers and Natives wherever she could. Once, learning of an impending raid on a settlement, she rode on horseback and even swam the Gunnison River to warn Settlers before it was too late. She also rescued a White woman and her child from Ute raiders. The woman later recalled Mrs. Ouray's kindness. Unable to bear children of her own, she and Ouray adopted four foster children. Despite the efforts of Ouray and Chipeta to keep hostilities at bay, tensions flared in the Meeker Massacre of 1879, where Ute warriors killed 11 Whites at White River Indian Agency. The Uncompahgre didn't take part in the uprising and retained the trust of White authorities. Captives from the Fort Steele garrison were brought to Ouray and Chipeta's home, and treated hospitably.
In January, 1880, Ouray and Chipeta were part of a delegation to Washington to treat with the U.S. Government for revised treaty boundaries and to testify before a Congressional Committee. As they passed through Alamosa to board the trained, they were nearly killed by an angry mob. Testimony by women in any situation was still rare in those days, but Chipeta was allowed to testify to the Committee through an interpreter. Despite the fact that they'd had no part in the Massacre, the Uncompahgre and White River Utes were forced to remove to Utah. Chief Ouray died in Ignacio, Colorado, but Chipeta traveled on to Utah to do what she could for the people.
Chipeta had been promised a house by the federal government, but was instead given a two-rom shack on land that could not be irrigated, making her dependent on reservation rations, which were never regular. Despite the deprivation and poverty, Chipeta remained gracious. She continued to attend tribal council meetings, something that no Ute woman did at the time. She enjoyed entertaining people in her own home and was known for her hospitality. Unfortunately, she went blind in later life and died in 1824.
Chipeta died in Utah but was eventually buried in Montrose, Colorado. In 1985, she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.
Chipeta, 1843-1924, was born a Kiowa-Apache. Shortly after her birth, she was taken in by the Uncompahgre Ute tribe and raised as one of them. In 1859, she married Ouray. She quickly became his most respected confidant and advisor. A kindly and intelligent woman who was perceptive to the people and situations around her, she often sat with her husband in tribal council meetings. A beautiful woman who was renowned for her beadwork, she could also step in when matters threatened to get out of hand. When her brother attempted to assassinated Ouray, he grabbed his knife to defend himself. Chipeta seized the sheath and the knife out of her husband's hand, saving her brother's life, but also saving Ouray from any possible repercussions from her family.
Chipeta acted to prevent bloodshed between Settlers and Natives wherever she could. Once, learning of an impending raid on a settlement, she rode on horseback and even swam the Gunnison River to warn Settlers before it was too late. She also rescued a White woman and her child from Ute raiders. The woman later recalled Mrs. Ouray's kindness. Unable to bear children of her own, she and Ouray adopted four foster children. Despite the efforts of Ouray and Chipeta to keep hostilities at bay, tensions flared in the Meeker Massacre of 1879, where Ute warriors killed 11 Whites at White River Indian Agency. The Uncompahgre didn't take part in the uprising and retained the trust of White authorities. Captives from the Fort Steele garrison were brought to Ouray and Chipeta's home, and treated hospitably.
In January, 1880, Ouray and Chipeta were part of a delegation to Washington to treat with the U.S. Government for revised treaty boundaries and to testify before a Congressional Committee. As they passed through Alamosa to board the trained, they were nearly killed by an angry mob. Testimony by women in any situation was still rare in those days, but Chipeta was allowed to testify to the Committee through an interpreter. Despite the fact that they'd had no part in the Massacre, the Uncompahgre and White River Utes were forced to remove to Utah. Chief Ouray died in Ignacio, Colorado, but Chipeta traveled on to Utah to do what she could for the people.
Chipeta had been promised a house by the federal government, but was instead given a two-rom shack on land that could not be irrigated, making her dependent on reservation rations, which were never regular. Despite the deprivation and poverty, Chipeta remained gracious. She continued to attend tribal council meetings, something that no Ute woman did at the time. She enjoyed entertaining people in her own home and was known for her hospitality. Unfortunately, she went blind in later life and died in 1824.
Chipeta died in Utah but was eventually buried in Montrose, Colorado. In 1985, she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.
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