Chipeta

Chipeta
Chipeta and her husband Chief Ouray, wearing a shirt she beaded
Born	1843/1844
Died	August 20, 1924 Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, Utah
Nationality	American
Other names	White Singing Bird
Known for	Ute tribal leader and wise woman
Spouse(s)	Chief Ouray

Chipeta or White Singing Bird (1843 or 1844–August 1924), was a Native American woman, and the second wife of Chief Ouray of the Uncompahgre Ute tribe. Born a Kiowa Apache, she was raised by the Utes in what is now Conejos, Colorado. Advisor and confidant of her husband, Chipeta continued as a leader of her people after his death in 1880.

She was an Indian Rights Advocate and Diplomat. She used diplomacy to try to achieve peace with the white settlers in Colorado. In early 1880, she and her party were almost lynched by an angry mob of white people in Alamosa, Colorado when they tried to board a train for Washington DC. It was only a few months after the Meeker Massacre and the whites held all Utes responsible. The Ute delegation was on its way to negotiate a treaty regarding reservation resettlement. They had also been called to testify at a Congressional inquiry into the Ute uprising. Years later, Chipeta also met with President William Taft. She was highly respected by both the Ute and white people. In 1985, Chipeta was inducted into Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.

Chipeta, "White Singing Bird" in the Ute (Shoshonean) language, was born into the Kiowa Apache tribe in about 1843 or 1844. She was adopted and raised by the Uncompahgre Utes of present-day Colorado. She learned their traditional ways and became a skilled artisan in beadwork and tanning.

In 1859, she married Chief Ouray of the Uncompahgres, becoming his second wife. She came to act as his advisor and confidant, often sitting beside him at tribal council meetings. In 1863, Chipeta and her husband helped create the first treaty of Conejos, Colorado. Chipeta's brother, Sapinero, was jealous of Ouray's power and tried to murder him to which he failed. Ouray took out his knife in order to kill the traitor but Chipeta grabbed it out of the sheath before Ouray could grab it thus saving her brother's life. Described as "beautiful", she played the guitar and sang in three languages. Chipeta was also renowned for her exquisite beadwork.