Ute Chief Colorow

 Ute Chief Colorow was born Comanche.  When just five years old there was a battle in northern New Mexico and he was kidnapped Muache band of Utes.  He had red skin so was given the nickname Colorado, which was pronounced poorly, Colorao with the d swallowed and when heard by White people was pronounced and spelled Colorow.  Colorow as a youth tra veled throughout Colorado.  He participated in a couple battles against Arapaho, one near Aspen where he was declared a hero, and another near Golden Colorado.  This battle was so severe the valley was abandoned after.  

By 18868 Colorow was a sub chief of the Northern Ute.  He was involved in treaty negotiations.  Despite this White settlers continued to encroach upon Ute land and the treaty negotiations favored the Whites.  Colorow began to not trust the government.  He signed the treaty of 1878 identifying himself as a Yampa and Grand River Ute.  Nathan Meeker tried to force the Utes to be farmers by with holding the agreed upon food allotments.  Colorow tried to negotiate for peace, but Colorow stabbed Meeker in the mouth for lying.  This resulted in the deaths of Meeker and about ten others.  It also resulted in the Battle of Mink Creek where Ute warriors ambushed an intervening military force.  Meeker's wife was held hostage.  The final result of this was that he and his people were forced to leave Colorado, as were the Uncompahgre who were not involved.  The forced removal became the Northern Ute's trail of tears.  Colorow was removed to the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah.  He would return to Colorado to hunt as per treaty agreement, but this made Whites nervous and lead to Colorow's War.  The Buffalo Soldiers from Fort Duchesne had to intervene between the Ute and the Colorado local militias.  

In later life Colorow suffered from obesity, diabetes and kidney failure.  He died of pneumonia in 1888.  His body was buried by the White River.