Walkara | |
|---|---|
 Walkara, painted by Solomon Nunes Carvalho | |
| Born | 1808 |
| Died | 1855 (aged 47) |
Chief Walkara (c. 1808 – 1855; also known as Wakara, Wahkara, Chief Walker or Colorow) was a Northern Ute leader of the Utah Indians known as the Timpanogo and Sanpete Band. He had a reputation as a diplomat, horseman and warrior, and a military leader of raiding parties in Wakara's War.[1]
He was the most prominent Native American chief in the Utah area when the Mormon Pioneers arrived in 1847.[2] One observer described Walkara in 1843 as: "the principal ruling chief... owing his position to great wealth. He is a good trader, trafficking with the whites and reselling goods to such of his nation as are less skillful in striking a bargain."[3]
In 1865, some ten years after his death, the Timpanogo agreed to go live on the Uintah Reservation under Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah and merged with the Northern Shoshone. Walkara is often referred to as Ute, but this is incorrect. Ute is a blanket name for many tribes.[citation needed] The Shoshone have cultural and linguistic heritage as part of the Numic branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Walkara is Shoshone and his name, Walkara, means Hawk, in Shoshone.[4][5]
- ^ Utah History To Go The Walker War, State of Utah
- ^ "Chief Walkara". Monuments and Markers Database. Utah Division of State History.
- ^ Kelley, Tina; MacKay, Kathryn L. "Walkara". Utah History Encyclopedia.
- ^ "Our Timpanogos Ancestors". Timpanogos Tribe.
- ^ "Interesting Black Hawk war factoids 1847 1872".