Chipeta: Ute Peacemaker

by Cynthia S. Becker

Chipeta was the wife, confidant, and advisor to Chief Ouray of the Tabeguache band of Ute Indians in the mountain regions of Colorado. After Ouray's death in 1880, Chipeta continued as a leader of her people through times of challenge and hardship until her death in 1924. Chipeta was respected as a wise woman by both Utes and non-Indian people.

Cynthia Becker is co-author with David Smith of Queen of the Utes, and she brings the exhaustive research of that work to this Now You Know Bio of an inspirational Native American woman.

Chipeta...never for a moment wavered in her loyalty to what she thought the right and from the first used all her influence for peace...She saw that war meant the murder of hundreds of whites and the extermination of her own people...
Margaret T. Adams, wife of Charles Adams, Los Pinos Indian Agent

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction

98 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2008

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

During a recent trip to Colorado, I became very interested in the Ute people since the cabin I was staying at had a number of Ute prayer trees on it. I went in to Westcliffe to a farmer's market and purchased this book.

Chipeta was an amazing woman who worked her whole life to bring about peace between the Ute people and the white man that began appearing in their land. This book made me feel bad for the Utes who were pushed out of their land to the land west of the Continental Divide in Colorado, and then when the white people wanted that mineral rich land, they were pushed further into the dry lands of Utah where they could hardly grow anything. Promises the government made to them were not kept, people stole from them, hunted them down and killed some of them. All this would have made a person angry and bitter, however, Chipeta continued to work for peace. She is an honored person in history of Colorado and people still remember her.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish they would incorporate this into the history you learn in public school. I could not understand the anger and hatred I experienced as a child from tribal members towards me. (Not all do, just some.). I think I can view it with more understanding and compassion as I learn the history and continue reading more books about this. I will be requiring my children to read this as well. Chipeta is an inspiration and we as modern day people can only hope to emulate her kindness, caring, compassion and strength.

[Michelle Schulten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing history of Chipeta. The research is vast and put into a well thought out story!

[Terry]

Our child picked this because she had to read a biography for school. At first she read it with that "I don't like homework" attitude. But about a third of the way through the book (and after looking at lots of the pictures), she got into the story. By the end, she said it was very interesting and she was glad she picked it.

To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.

[William Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Well researched and adapted to a younger reader audience. I really enjoyed the story and the history involved.