Plenty Coups facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plenty Coups
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| Alaxchíia Ahú | |
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Portrait of Plenty Coups (c. 1908, aged 60)
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| Crow (Apsáalooke), Crow Nation leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Chíilaphuchissaaleesh ("Buffalo Bull Facing The Wind")
1848 The-cliffs-that-have-no-name (possibly near Billings, Montana) |
| Died | 1932 Chief Plenty Coups (Alek-Chea-Ahoosh) State Park and Home, Crow Indian Reservation, Montana |
| Spouse | Strikes-the-iron |
| Parents | Medicine-Bird, Otter-woman |
| Known for | Defending Crow lands in Washington, D.C., promoting education for Indian youth |
Plenty Coups (whose name in the Crow language was Alaxchíia Ahú, meaning "many achievements") lived from 1848 to 1932. He was a very important leader and the main chief of the Crow Nation, also known as the "Apsáalooke" people.
Plenty Coups was a wise leader. He decided to work with the white settlers during the time when the American West was being settled. This was because the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes were traditional enemies of the Crow. These tribes were fighting against the white settlers.
When Plenty Coups was very young, he had a special dream, called a vision. In this vision, he saw that non-Native American people would eventually take control of his homeland in Montana. Because of this vision, he believed that cooperating with the new settlers would help his people more than fighting them.
He deeply wanted the Crow people to survive. He also wanted their customs and spiritual beliefs to continue. His hard work helped make sure this happened. He guided his people peacefully into the 20th century.
Plenty Coups became a chief when he was 29 years old. He was the last chief chosen by other chiefs. He is famous for saying: "Education is your greatest weapon. With education you are the white man's equal, without education you are his victim and so shall remain all of your lives. Study, learn, help one another always. Remember there is only poverty and misery in idleness and dreams – but in work there is self respect and independence."
Contents
Plenty Coups' Early Life
Plenty Coups was born in 1848. His birthplace was a spot called "the-cliffs-that-have-no-name," which might have been near Billings, Montana. His father was Medicine-Bird, and his mother was Otter-woman.
He was given the birth name Chíilaphuchissaaleesh. This name means "Buffalo Bull Facing The Wind."
During his younger years, Plenty Coups lived like a typical Crow warrior. This meant he often fought with other large tribes. These tribes included the Sioux and Cheyenne. They fought over land, hunting rights, and honor. This was part of the traditional warrior way of life.
How Plenty Coups Got His Name
As was the custom, Plenty Coups' birth name was changed when he was a young man. His grandfather made a prediction about him. He said Plenty Coups would become the chief of the Crow Tribe. He also said he would live a very long life and do many great things.
Because of this prediction, he was named Alaxchiiaahush. This name means "many achievements." The English name "Plenty Coups" comes from the word "coup." A "coup" is an act of bravery. Throughout his life, Plenty Coups truly lived up to his name and his grandfather's prediction.
Visions Guiding His Future
Early in his life, Plenty Coups began to have special dreams and visions. These were like glimpses into the future. Many of his visions seemed so strange that no one believed them at first.
But as his visions started to come true, his tribe members began to respect him greatly. They listened very carefully to what he said.
When he was nine years old, his older brother, whom he loved very much, died. After this, Plenty Coups had a vision. In it, one of the Little People of the Pryor Mountains spoke to him. This small being told him to improve his senses and his cleverness. It said that if he used them well, he would become a chief.
Plenty Coups later described this moment. He said he felt a strong will inside him. He decided to use it, just as the Dwarf-chief in his vision had advised. He felt very happy and knew himself better after this dream.
Later, when he was 11, Plenty Coups and other young Crow men were challenged. They needed to have a vision that could guide their people's future. He fasted and spent several days in the Crazy Mountains. There, he had a powerful vision.
In this vision, he saw many buffalo coming out of a hole. They spread across the plains, then disappeared. Then, strange buffalo with odd tails and different colors appeared. They made unusual sounds and also covered the plains. He saw himself as an old man, living near a cold spring in the foothills of the Arrowhead Mountains.
He also saw a forest. Strong winds blew down all the trees in the forest until only one tree was left standing. Inside this last tree was the home of the chickadee.
Tribal elders helped Plenty Coups understand his vision. They said it meant that white people would take over Native American lands and their way of life. This was like the wind blowing down the trees. But one tree would remain, representing the Crow people. The Crow tribe would be safe if they learned to work with the white man.
After this vision, the chickadee became his spirit guide. He would carry a pair of chickadee legs in a special medicine bag. This bag was for protection and spiritual power. This vision guided Plenty Coups' actions for the rest of his life. It also guided the Crow people.
Earning His New Name
A Young Warrior's Bravery
Plenty Coups began learning the ways of an Indian warrior early in life. Other tribes often attacked the Crow. These constant attacks gave Plenty Coups many chances to show his courage. He quickly started earning "coups," or acts of bravery.
He spent his youth fighting and learning with other young warriors. One of them was Medicine Crow (Sacred Raven), who also became a chief. Many times, Plenty Coups would cover himself with a gray wolf hide. He would sneak alone into an enemy camp to scout.
He would then return to his fellow warriors and plan an attack. During the attack, Plenty Coups would try to touch an enemy with his coup stick. Or he would try to take a weapon or a horse. The goal was to do this and return without being killed or captured. This was seen as a greater act of bravery than actually killing an enemy.
Plenty Coups soon became known for being fearless and clever, like a wolf. He joined the elite warriors of his tribe. These warriors sometimes did things backwards. This unusual behavior helped scare their enemies because of their reputation.
A Young Diplomat's Wisdom
As a young man, Plenty Coups also became known for being a wise and good speaker. People often looked to him for guidance and advice. He frequently spoke during tribal councils. He talked about their enemies and how to deal with the white settlers and their government.
The Last Great Chief
Plenty Coups was named a chief of the Crow people when he was 28 years old. As a young chief, he was a fierce and respected warrior. People believed he had between 50 and 100 feathers on his coup stick. Each feather showed an act of bravery. He had met the four requirements for becoming a chief many times over.
Protecting His Nation Through Battle
Plenty Coups became a chief in 1876. This was the same year as the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Six Crow warriors worked as scouts for General Custer during this time. They joined forces with the white soldiers. They did this to fight their main enemies: the Lakota, Sioux, and Cheyenne.
Plenty Coups' vision had taught him that working with the white man was the only way. It was the only way to ensure the Crow's future survival in a world that was changing.
Protecting His People Through Words
Plenty Coups was chosen to represent the Crow people in Washington, D.C.. There, he successfully fought against plans by U.S. senators. These plans aimed to get rid of the Crow nation and take their lands. He made many trips to Washington over ten years to protect his people.
He was quite successful in his efforts. He managed to keep the Crow's original land. Although it was only 80% of what they were first given, it was still a major victory. Many outsiders wanted the land for gold mining and other uses. Many other Native American tribes were moved to reservations far from their homelands.
Plenty Coups once described his trip to Washington in 1880. He told William Wildschut that they traveled east by "Fast Wagon" or train. He described the train as "a big black horse with his belly nearly touching the ground."
Honoring the Unknown Soldier
Chief Plenty Coups was chosen as the only Native American representative. He attended the dedication of the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier. He gave a short speech in his native language. It honored the soldier and the special event.
He placed his war-bonnet and coup stick on the tomb. These items are now kept in a display case there.
Plenty Coups' Legacy
Plenty Coups passed away in 1932 at the age of 84. His people considered him the last of the great chiefs. The vision he had as a young boy had come true. He was married to Strikes-the-iron, but they had no children of their own.
Bison, which were once plentiful, were almost completely replaced by cattle. White society and government had taken over and completely changed America. Through his diplomacy, foresight, and strong leadership, Plenty Coups was able to preserve the Crow Nation's land, people, and culture much better than most other Native American tribes.
His Life Story in a Book
Author Frank Bird Linderman wrote a book about Chief Plenty Coups' life. Plenty Coups was 80 years old at the time. Linderman would visit him at his home on the Crow Reservation. He would ask the chief to share parts of his life story.
Two other Crow Indians, Coyote-runs and Braided-scalp-lock (also known as Frank Shively), helped Plenty Coups tell his story to Linderman. He spoke about his vision quests, his fights with the Cheyennes and Lakotas, and the history of the Crows. He also shared what he knew about the Tongue River massacre in 1820. This was a big attack on a Crow camp at Tongue River.
The book about Plenty Coups' life was published in 1930. It was called American: The Life Story of a Great Indian: Plenty-coups, Chief of the Crows. In 1962, it was reprinted as Plenty-Coups: Chief of the Crows and is still available today.
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Chief Plenty Coups State Park
In 1928, Plenty Coups visited George Washington's Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia. This visit inspired him. Four years before he died, Chief Plenty Coups gave 195 acres (0.79 km2) of his own land to Big Horn County, Montana. He wanted to create a park for future generations to enjoy.
His log cabin is still there and is part of Chief Plenty Coups State Park. He is buried here, and visitors can see his grave. The park also has a visitor's center and museum. They offer more information about Plenty Coups and his lasting impact. The entire park was updated in 2003. It is located near Pryor, Montana.
Plenty Coups' Famous Sayings
- "Education is your most powerful weapon. With education, you are the white man's equal; without education, you are his victim, and so shall remain all your lives."
- "The ground on which we stand is sacred ground. It is the blood of our ancestors."
- "I hear the white men say there will be no more war. But this cannot be true. There will be other wars. Men have not changed, and whenever they quarrel they will fight, as they have always done."
