Bull Chief facts for kids
Bull Chief was an important leader of the Apsaroke (Crow) tribe. He was known for his bravery in battle and his spiritual strength.
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Early Life and Visions
Bull Chief was born in 1825 and passed away on February 4, 1914. As a young man, he was part of the Crow tribe. He was later interviewed by Edward S. Curtis, a photographer who visited many Native American tribes in the early 1900s to record their stories and take their pictures.
When he was young, Bull Chief often returned from war parties without much success. He didn't believe in fasting to gain power for battles. Because he wasn't having much luck, Bull Chief decided to try something new. He climbed Cloud Peak, a very high mountain in Wyoming, hoping to have a special vision. He stayed there for a day and a night, but he didn't have a vision. Mountain rats bothered him, and a big snowstorm made it too dangerous to stay.
When he returned home, his village was moving to a new area near Red Lodge Creek, Montana. Bull Chief decided to try fasting again. He fasted for four days and nights, but still no vision. He tried two more times without success. Seeing that other men in his tribe were achieving honors by "counting coup" (a brave act in battle), he tried one last time.
He went to the top of Red Lodge Creek and fasted for four days and nights in a heavy snowstorm. This time, his experience was very different. He had a powerful vision where he "Saw his own lodge and a splendid bay horse standing in front of it." The meaning of this vision wasn't fully explained, but after it, Bull Chief became very successful in battles. He soon earned his first honor and began counting coup often. Counting coup was the highest honor a warrior could achieve in battles between Plains Indian tribes. Bull Chief's strong will and personal courage helped him become a great hunter, a skilled fighter, and a spiritually strong leader.
Life as a Warrior and Leader
Bull Chief was a fierce warrior who led his people in battles against the United States Army in the Great Plains during the 1870s. He also led raids on white settlements to help his people survive as more settlers moved west. After these conflicts ended, he moved to the Crow Reservation. In 1908, he met photographer Edward S. Curtis, who took his picture. By then, Bull Chief was an elderly leader, and his days of war were long past.
Mourning and Spiritual Guidance
Bull Chief had several marriages during his lifetime. One of his wives, likely his first, tragically died when a bank of earth fell on her. To honor her death, Bull Chief decided to go through a spiritual journey.
At sunset, Bull Chief went to a hilltop and lay down, placing his head between the horns of a buffalo skull and his feet pointing east. He rested there all night. During his sleep, he had another vision. He saw a man standing at his feet, who then turned and walked away. The next morning, a man named Big Shadow came to the hilltop and knew that someone had visited Bull Chief during the night. After Bull Chief cleaned up, he told Big Shadow about the man in his vision. Based on Bull Chief's description, Big Shadow believed the man was his own father, Morning Star.
Bull Chief's Accomplishments
From that day forward, Bull Chief began to dress like the man from his vision. He believed this spirit guided and protected him, leading to his long life and many honors. Three of his first brave acts (coups) were against the Sioux, who were enemies of the Crow tribe. He also counted coup on two Indians who had been killed by white men, though Bull Chief said these acts were "Not good" because the enemies were already dead.
Bull Chief remembered capturing guns three times from enemies who were "Alive and shooting at him." He also took two revolvers and a bow from a Sioux warrior, and captured two horses that were tied up.
While Bull Chief never led large war parties out of camp, he did lead smaller groups of warriors trying to return home. These groups always came back with clear honors. On three separate occasions, Bull Chief got off his horse during battle and, by himself, managed to hold back the enemy.
During his life, up until his interview with Edward S. Curtis, Bull Chief killed three Sioux, two Nez Percés, one Shoshoni, and two Piegan warriors. He was a member of the Never Shoots clan and the Fox organization. Although Bull Chief chose not to accept the special lance of the Fox organization, they chose him to lead their procession four times. This showed that he was considered the bravest man present.
Images for kids
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Bull Chief of the Absaroke tribe
