Chipeta

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 Chipeta: 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.



Finalist for 2009 WILLA Award from Women Writing the West.