Plenty Coups, Chief of the Crows, 1848-1932

Variant names

Hide Profile

Plenty Coups; also known as Alaxchíia Ahú, also known as Many Achievements; was born Chíilaphuchissaaleesh (Buffalo Bull Facing The Wind) in 1848. He died in 1932 at the Chief Plenty Coups (Alek-Chea-Ahoosh) State Park and Home. Plenty Coups was the principal chief of the Crow Nation and a visionary leader. Plenty Coups allied the Crow with the whites when the war for the West was being fought because the Sioux and Cheyenne (who opposed white settlement of the area) were the traditional enemies of the Crow. Plenty Coups had also experienced a vision when he was very young that non-Native American people would ultimately take control of his homeland (Montana), so he always felt that cooperation would benefit his people much more than opposition. He very much wanted the Crow to survive as a people and their customs and spiritual beliefs to carry on. His efforts on their behalf ensured that this happened, and he led his people peacefully into the 20th century.[2] One of his famous quotes is: "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." Chief Plenty Coups became a chief at the age of twenty-nine; he is the last chief who was elected a chief by other chiefs.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn William Wildschut Photograph Collection National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.) Archive Center
referencedIn Medicine Crow, Joseph, 1913-. Papers, 1825-1987. Little Big Horn College Library
referencedIn Parman, Donald Lee, 1932-. Donald Parman papers, 1905-1913. Little Big Horn College Library
referencedIn Fred E. Miller photograph collection National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.) Archive Center
creatorOf Plenty Coups, Chief of the Crows, 1848-1932. Declaration of allegiance to the government of the United States by the North American Indian, 1913 February 22. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Wildschut, William. William Wildschut papers, 1878-1927. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Lillian A. DeLong collection of cyanotypes National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.) Archive Center
referencedIn Photograph of a Crow Indian Delegation, April 1880–May 1880 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Yellowtail, Robert. Papers, 1825-1986. Little Big Horn College Library
referencedIn Albright, Peggy. Peggy Albright papers, 1881-1996 (bulk 1881-1930). Little Big Horn College Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albright, Peggy. person
associatedWith Medicine Crow, Joseph, 1913- person
associatedWith Parman, Donald Lee, 1932- person
associatedWith Wildschut, William. person
associatedWith Yellowtail, Robert. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Montana MT US
Montana MT US
Subject
Crow Indians
Crow language
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1848

Death 1932

Siouan languages

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jw94hj

Ark ID: w6jw94hj

SNAC ID: 15427406