Ochinee

Ochinee (died November 29, 1864), also known as Lone Bear and One-Eye, was a Native American Peace Chief of the Cheyenne tribe. He was the father of Amache Prowers, who was a tradeswoman, advocate, and leader among the Southern Cheyenne. Ochinee, who had worked to create peace for the Cheyenne, died during the Sand Creek massacre on November 29, 1864.

Attempts to broker peace Ochinee, a sub-chief, Ochinee went to Fort Lyon on September 4, 1864 with his wife to deliver a letter to Major Ned Wynkoop from Black Kettle and other chiefs. Nervous soldiers tried to shoot him when he approached the fort. The letter conveyed that Cheyenne people were fearful of raids and were starving. Black Kettle released white people that the Cheyenne had taken captive and asked to discuss a solution for peace. Wynkoop encouraged tribal chiefs, including Black Kettle and Arapaho Chief Niwot (Left Hand) to travel with him to Denver to meet with Territorial Governor, John Evans and Colonel John Chivington. The delegation left for Denver for the September 28 meeting at Camp Weld.

Sand Creek massacre Portion of winter count depicting Black Kettle at Sand Creek. (Buffalo Bill Center of the West) On November 29, 1864, the Cheyenne encampment at the Sand Creek was attacked by 600 soldiers of the Colorado Volunteer Cavalry and Ochinee and 160 other people, most of whom were children and women, were killed. The troops were led by Colonel John Chivington upon the orders of John Evans, the territorial governor of Colorado. Amache went later to the Congress with her husband and testified to seek justice for the Cheyenne. Cheyenne men sought retribution after the Sand Creek massacre. Called Cheyenne dog soldiers, they looted and terrorized the area. (Although land owned by American women went to their husbands if they were married, but the treaty that Amache and her female family members were subject to meant that they owned the land gained through reparations.) (Years later, Prowers was asked, as she was about to be introduced to Chivington at an Eastern Star meeting in Denver, whether she knew him.) Her daughter Mary recounts that, "My mother drew herself up with that stately dignity, peculiar to her people, and ignoring the outstretched hand, remarked in perfect English, audible to all in the room, 'Know Col. Chivington? I should. He was my father's murderer!' and turned her back to him. Minimic taught Amache how to make tepees from buffalo hides; how to make and decorate clothing from hides, beads, and animal teeth; and how to select wild plants for medicine, dyes, and food.

Legacy The Achonee Mountain in the Indian Peaks Wilderness was named after him.