Chipeta: Queen of the Utes

by P. David Smith and Cynthia Simmelink Becker

Chipeta was to outlive Ouray by almost half a century. During part of this time she was ignored, forgotten, and even cheated by the whites, although immediately after Ouray’s death many suitors had courted her and men wrote poetry about her. Then in her old age the whites honored her again on many special occasions. Although she could not have children of her own, she “adopted” many orphaned Utes. Chipeta played the guitar well, sang beautifully in three languages, and was well known for her exquisite beadwork. Perhaps her greatest legacy was that through all that happened to her, she did not become embittered and remained a humble, caring, loving person. Chipeta was a special individual that we would all do well to emulate.

Published

2003

ISBN

978-1-890437-79-4

Pages

278

Category

History

Publisher

Western Reflections Publishing Co.

Listed at

$21.95

Publication details from Open Library. The price shown is the last one on record and is historic, not a current offer. Cover image courtesy of Open Library.