Ochinee facts for kids
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Ochinee, also known as Lone Bear or One-Eye, was an important Cheyenne leader. He was a Peace Chief who worked hard to bring peace between his people and the United States government. Ochinee was the father of Amache Prowers, a Cheyenne woman who married a trader. Sadly, Ochinee died during the terrible Sand Creek massacre on November 29, 1864.
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Working for Peace
Ochinee was a sub-chief, which means he was a leader under a main chief. He helped make an agreement, called a treaty, between the government, the Cheyenne, and the Arapaho tribes. This treaty was meant to let the tribes camp safely along Sand Creek during the winter of 1864–1865.
Meeting at Fort Lyon
On September 4, 1864, Ochinee and his wife went to Fort Lyon. They carried a letter from Black Kettle and other chiefs for Major Ned Wynkoop. When they got close to the fort, some nervous soldiers tried to shoot Ochinee. The letter explained that the Cheyenne people were afraid of attacks and were very hungry. Black Kettle had also released some white people the Cheyenne had captured. He wanted to talk about finding a way to have peace.
Ochinee, his wife Minimic, and another man were put under guard. They traveled for four days with 127 soldiers. They went to a camp where Arapaho and Cheyenne people were staying on the Smoky Hill River.
Talks in Denver
Major Wynkoop encouraged tribal chiefs, including Black Kettle and Arapaho Chief Niwot (Left Hand), to go with him to Denver. There, they would meet with the Territorial Governor, John Evans, and Colonel John Chivington. The group left for Denver for a meeting on September 28 at Camp Weld.
Ochinee met with Governor Evans and other leaders. Colonel John Chivington even said that Ochinee was a good person and a "friendly Indian." Before a terrible attack happened, the family of John Wesley Prowers, including Ochinee's daughter Amache Prowers, were held. This was to stop them from warning the Cheyenne at the Sand Creek winter camp about the upcoming attack.
The Sand Creek Massacre
On November 29, 1864, the Cheyenne camp at Sand Creek was attacked. About 600 soldiers from the Colorado Volunteer Cavalry carried out the attack. Ochinee and about 160 other people were killed. Most of those who died were children and women. Colonel John Chivington led the troops. He was following orders from John Evans, who was the territorial governor of Colorado.
Grandfather Ochinee (One-Eye) escaped from the camp, but seeing all that his people were to be slaughtered, he deliberately chose to go back into the one-sided battle and die with them.
—Mary Prowers Hudnal, daughter of Amache Prowers
Ochinee's wife was able to escape the attack. Later, Ochinee's daughter, Amache, went to the Congress with her husband. She spoke about what happened to try and get justice for the Cheyenne people. After the Sand Creek massacre, some Cheyenne men sought revenge. These men, known as Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, caused trouble in the area.
Ochinee's wife, Minimic, and his two oldest daughters later received land from the United States government. They each got 640 acres of land along the Arkansas River. Amache used this land to make her family's cattle ranch bigger. The rest of Ochinee's family moved to Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma.
Family Life
Ochinee's wife was named Minimic. They had a daughter named Amache, who married a white man named John Wesley Prowers. Minimic taught Amache many important skills. She learned how to make tepees from buffalo hides. She also learned how to make and decorate clothes using hides, beads, and animal teeth. Minimic taught Amache how to find wild plants for medicine, dyes, and food.
Legacy
A mountain in the Indian Peaks Wilderness was named after Ochinee. It is called Achonee Mountain.
