Chief Plenty Coups: Leading the Crow to a New Life

Chief Plenty Coups of the Crow was born in 1848, the son of Medicine Bird and his wife Otter Woman. Chief Plenty Coups was named by his father, as he had a dream that his son would ôcount many coups, live to an old age, and become a chiefö (Biography of Plenty-Coups 1). All of these premonitions would be realized by Chief Plenty Coups, and while he was instrumental in helping the Crow in battles against other tribes, particularly the Lakota Sioux, Plenty Coups rose to prominence among his people and with the U.S. government after reservation settlement. As one biographer writes, ôAfter 1904, he was effectively recognized as the single most important Native American tribal leader both by the federal government and his own peopleö (Biography of Plenty-Coups 1).

Chief Plenty Coups was responsible for leading the Crow during the transition to a new way of life. He was also instrumental in representing his people to the U.S. government, including his successful efforts at protecting Crow lands that resulted in the Crow Act of 1920. This analysis will discuss the leadership of Chief Plenty Coups and the obstacles he faced in his fight for the rights of his people.

Before reservation life, Chief Plenty Coups rose to power due to his warrior skills. There were four deeds required to make one a Crow Chief, including stealing horses from the enemy, striking the first coup against an enemy in battle, capturin

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(Biography 2). As settlers began to move West and demanded more and more land, Chief Plenty Coups was instrumental in fighting for the rights of his people as their representative to the U.S. government. The efforts of Chief Plenty Coups in leading the Crow during reservation life were instrumental in improving the lives of all Crow. His adoption of ranching and farming helped to provide the Crow nation with a sound economy. His opening of a retail trade store also provided income that was helpful in promoting the rights of his people. His stance of collaboration and conciliation both with other Indian tribes and the white man were significant in promoting peace for his people as well as benefiting them with better opportunities than other tribes. In general, his views on the need for adapting to a new way of life made the transition to reservation life less traumatic for many Crow. In 1883, his skillful leadership and representation of the Crow put him at the head of the delegation negotiating with the Dawes Commission. He fought tirelessly in Washington for potential payments to Crow for their land. At the outbreak of World War I, his encouragement to Crows to join the military provided many with economic security and a
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