Shawsheen

Shawsheen (Shoshine) (c. 1845-?) otherwise known as She-towitch, or Susan, was a Native American woman who was a part of the Tabeguache (Uncompahgre) Ute tribe and sister to Chief Ouray. She is known for her capture by the Cheyenne and Arapaho in 1860 or 1861, her protection and care for Arvilla and Josephine Meeker during their captivity, as well as her role within the politics of her tribe as a female leader alongside her sister-in-law, Chipeta.

Childhood and marriage Shawsheen was born either on the Western Slope of Colorado, or in northern New Mexico and historians believe that she spent most of her childhood in the Uncompahgre Valley. Like many young Ute girls, she would have learned the arts of bead work and weaving in order to trade with other Native Americans and settlers.

Shawsheen was married to Chief Johnson 2, otherwise known as Canalla, a White River Ute.

Capture by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Sometime in 1860 or 1861, while out hunting near the Cache la Podure River on the Eastern Plains of Colorado, Shawsheen and members of her family encountered members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe. During an altercation Shawsheen was taken captive. According to Carroll her rescue took place in May 1863. His interviewer George West said area settlers had found out about Shawsheen's imminent execution and sent a messenger to Camp Collins to warn them. Capt. Hardy detailed Sgt. Carroll to take a squad of a dozen men and he proceeded at all speed to the village located "some ten or twelve miles from Camp Collins, down the creek. Upon coming in sight of the village the soldiers noticed an unusual commotion, and when they rode in among the tepees no captive was to be seen, but the preparations had been undisturbed, as they found a fence post erected in the centre of the camp, and a quantity of wood around it ready to be ignited. After considerable searching the squaw was discovered in one of the lodges, concealed under a lot of buffalo robes, with her head closely shaved in readiness for the sacrifice". Sgt. Carroll brought her ought, mounted her behind him on his own horse over the strenuous objections of her captors, and with the squad returned in safety to Camp Collins.

According to West Shawsheen then stayed with Carroll and his wife Mary in camp for around two months. Mary took great interest in her, made her several dresses and gave her the name "Susan", likely an anglicized approximation of her name as pronounced out loud. The Carrolls thought highly of her, considering her unusually intelligent, including learning English language quite well in such a short time. West said "Mrs. Carroll had all confidence in her, leaving her in charge of her quarters when away. She sometimes appeared to be getting home-sick to return to her tribe, but no opportunity occurred to return her to her friends." Shawsheen "...always seemed to be very grateful to the soldiers for rescuing her from the old-time enemies of her tribe, and tried in every way to show her gratitude to Carroll and his men." On July 4, 1863 the Carrolls returned from a dance to discover Shawsheen had vanished, taking her dresses, a piece of meat and a butcher knife but nothing else. The Carrolls and fellow troops feared she had been recaptured and searched for her thoroughly the next day but found no sign of her enemies. Members of Company D stationed at Middle Park reported Shawsheen showed up at their camp sometime later, remained several days, then proceeded west to rejoin her tribe. In summer 1864 members of Company M confirmed she had successfully rejoined them when they saw and talked with her with her own people when they were camped at Colorado City. The Carrolls, upon hearing news of her involvement in the Meeker events, continued to "feel a lively interest in her, and feel well repaid for the kindness they were able to show her sixteen years ago." Mary Carroll, upon learning she still used the name Susan, was "quite proud of the fact that her ward has thought enough of it to retain it all these years." The captive women even referred to her as "God Bless Susan" for her kindness. Josephine describes how Shawsheen advocated for their release and ensured their safety.

Names Shawsheen has been referred to by many names throughout her historical narrative. Her descendants refer to her as She-Towitch, while many modern historians refer to her as Susan, "Ute Susan" or Shawsheen. She has also been known as Tsashin, Shosheen, Shashein, and Shasheen in other newspaper or familial accounts.

Life and legacy Shawsheen's life and contributions to early Colorado history have been recognized by the Greeley Museums in Greeley, Colorado. This organization also preserves and interprets the Meeker Home Museum, the original home of the Meeker family. In Greeley, there is an elementary school named after her, (Shawsheen Elementary) as well as scholarship on her life and legacy on display at the Greeley Museum.