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| Utes on
horses |
Courtesy, Library
of Congress
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San Juan Skyway
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Wayside Excursion: Chief Ouray
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| Chief
Ouray was leader of the Tabeguache band of the Southern Ute Tribe
in the mid-1800s. Considered one of the greatest Ute leaders, he
was patient, diplomatic, and steadfast (perhaps to a fault) in his
friendship with white people. Ouray was born in Taos, New Mexico
in 1833. As a boy he herded sheep and learned to speak both English
and Spanish. At the age of 18, he moved to the Colorado area to
become a member of the Tabeguache band, where until 1860, he lived
a very common life. |
| When Ouray became Chief of the Uncompahgre Utes,
he counseled his large and powerful tribe to seek accommodation
with the white people. He understood the terrible price of resistance
and did not want his people to be destroyed. |
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In August, 1880, Ouray died of
illness and was buried near the town of Ignacio in southwestern
Colorado. Just before his death, Ouray visited Washington, DC
where he met with President Rutherford B. Hayes. The President
described Ouray as "the most intellectual man I've ever conversed
with."
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| Chief Ouray's legacy is found in his
deep love for his people and his ever-present concern for their
welfare. A peaceful man, Ouray always believed that problems could
be solved and harmony maintained. His death prevented him from witnessing
the removal of his people from the lush San Juan Mountains of Colorado
to the barren desert of Utah. |
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Chief
Ouray and wife Chipeta
Courtesy, National Archives
Chief Ouray
was leader of the Tabeguache Band of the Ute Tribe in the mid-1800s.
Considered one of the greatest Ute leaders, he was patient, diplomatic,and
steadfast.
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Ute
woman and baby
Courtesy, Library of Congress
Chief Ouray’s
legacy is found in his deep love for his people and his ever-present
concern for their welfare.
|
|
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|
Chief
Ouray
Courtesy, National Archives
Ouray always
believed that problems could be solved and harmony maintained. He
counseled his large and powerful tribe to seek accomodation with
the white people.
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