Chipeta: Queen of the Utes

by Cynthia S. Becker, David Smith, P. David Smith

The other half of the story is now complete. After documenting the story of Chief Ouray, P. David Smith collaborated with Cynthia Becker, who had already done extensive archival research in Washington, D.C., to write a compelling and factual book on the life and times of Ouray's beloved wife and trusted confidant, Chipeta. This is the first book dedicated entirely to telling the story of a beautiful and compassionate woman.

Genres: Indigenous

278 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2000

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is of course extremely valuable to preserve histories such as this, but perhaps the way of telling it should be reconsidered.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening and equally dark read into the Ute history at the intersection/collision with white settlers, an increasingly losing proposition for the Native Americans over the timeframe covered in this book. Set within present-day Colorado (mostly covering the Uncompaghre Valley), this gave tribute to Chipeta and her husband, Chief Ouray. Tough, but necessary read.

[Marieta Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story! I picked up this book during our travels in the Western United States because we are familiar with the Ute Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, and I like stories about women, particularly women who rise to recognition in a "man's" world. Chipeta certainly did that in her own, unassuming way. A surprise was the connection of her tribe with the Milk Creek Battlefield near Meeker, Colorado, which my husband and I have visited. The more I read, the more frustrated I get with the horrible way the Indians have been treated by the Whites and the U.S. Government.

This was an enlightening read.

[Leah K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chipeta has been a name I've known for decades. I went to Chipeta Elementary School so she is not a foreign figure to me. The author obviously does a lot of research and there's a lot of good info however I think it suffered from lack of editing and the use of speculating. It bugs to no end when reading a history book for an author to state how a person must have been feeling or thinking.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read about Ouray and his wife Chipeta and what they brought to the Utes. Together they kept the Utes from all out war and after the death of Ouray, Chipeta was still looked upon as a leader.

Always the sad part is how the government cheated the Indians with land and annuity's promised. Not all were bad, but enough that the Indians weren't given what they were owed.

[Kayler Rose Publishing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic biography of the life of Chipeta. I learned several things I hadn't known about her and about the Ute Indians in general. It was written well and an enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to other readers interested in Chipeta and/or the Ute Indians.

[Ella Rupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most comprehensive information of Chipeta I have accessed to date. A bit more male focused than I would've been lead to believe, however, I understand that women are scarcely wrote about during this time.

[Brook · Rating 1 out of 5]

Focuses on white men not chipeta…

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite seemingly extensive research, the authors have had to rely on speculation and inventing possible events. It is more like historical fiction than a true biography of Chipeta.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I read this book:

I visited Ouray, Colorado a few summers ago - a beautiful mountain town with a lot of history. I finally got around to doing some research on the area and found out the story of Chief Ouray and his wife Chipeta.

About the book:

I have great admiration for both Chief Ouray and Chipeta for their courage and intellect regarding the situation they found themselves in that was not of their making. All Ute Indians wanted to do was live in peace in the only home they had ever known and fate would not allow that to happen. This book is yet another telling of the sad story of how the European people so badly treated the native Americans and how the Ute people tried to cope with it. Chipeta was well loved and respected among her own people and many White people.

If you have any interest in the history of how parts of Colorado were settled you might want to read this non-fiction book.

[Laurel Bushman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of good information, but written quite poorly, both structurally and stylistically. Lots of extremely detailed ins and outs of events with very little consideration for the big picture or context, making it a tedious read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned that today's kids are very dependent. :)