Do You Know Who This Man Is? Discuss the article The First Americans the Grand Council Fire of American Indians Dated December 1, 1927 they read in class the day before what the big message the author had … to share the story of native peoples in our history… In my mind learning about other cultures is like viewing the world and events through a different set of lens. Think about you and a friend seeing a car accident. Would you both view it the same way. What about an argument with you parents or siblings. Do you each tell the same story to your friends? Is either person telling the story 100% accurate or is the truth somewhere in the middle. Well this is true of our history. We need to always look for perspective. The reason this is important is because perspective leads us to relationships. In my mind relationships are the key to life. It is easy for me to say and do things to someone I don’t know but when I build a relationship with them it is a lot harder to justify being unfair or judgemental. Introduce Power Teaching Perspective/Relationship and also share pair partners. Then put up slides. Think Pair Share.

Chief Plenty Coups No matter what the response of kids this is a perfect time to talk about relationship and perspective. It will go we have no perspective and therefore it hinders our relationship. It will go we have different perspective so is it important for us to understand great American Leaders like Plenty Coups just like American Indian People understand great leaders like George Washington. Remember he wasn’t their leader.

What Do You Know About Chief Plenty Coups? Think Pair Share Excellent ideas - Now I have to be honest until I was in my thirties, I couldn’t have answered the first question to tell you who this was nor would I have been able to tell you anything about him. The funny thing is now that my perspective has changed, I would put him up there as one of my heroes. I am someone who values education, what Chief Plenty Coups did for his people and the education of his people can not be equaled by very many other humans in history. So lets talk just a bit about some of who Chief Plenty Coups was and some of his accomplishments.

Chief Plenty Coups He Lived from 1848 to 1932 and was given the name Buffalo Bull Facing The Wind. Later the name Plenty Coups was given to him for the numerous deeds he had counted throughout his lifetime. Was the last principal Chief of the Apsaalooke (Crow) Tribe. Chief Plenty Coups was an advocate for education. Born three years before the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 which was the first treaty that assigned a specific land area to the Apsaalooke people. Chief Plenty Coups first counted coup in his early teens - which was being the first to strike or touch an enemy in battle. In addition to this type of coups Plenty Coups also accomplished many other noteworthy deeds in his lifetime. All of these deeds counted toward him becoming a chief. Two days after his death in 1932 the Crow Tribe General Council voted against selecting another chief and it was stated that “No living man can fill Plenty Coups’ Place.” THINK PAIR SHARE how important do you think this man was and is to the Apsaalooke people that they voted to never have another principal chief?

Accomplishments Plenty Coups was not only a noted warrior but also a visionary. His Vision Quest changed the course of the Apsaalooke people. He became a diplomat for the Apsaalooke people and he became well known, both nationally and internationally. He was selected as the “Chief of All Chiefs” at the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 1921. Early in his life he counted coups and participated in intertribal warfare however due to his vision quests he always followed the path he had been shown. Okay this is going to be critical learning right now to help you understand what you will be working on over the next week. THINK PAIR SHARE What do you know about Vision Quests? Chief Plenty Coups made several trips back to Washington D.C. as a representative of his people. He met dignitaries from around the world. As a matter of fact… Talk about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. President was the only one suppose to give a speech however Plenty Coups spoke right before the tomb was lowered into the ground. Here is what he said Page 176.

Accomplishments Plenty Coups was an active diplomat who protected the Crow Reservation from being open for sale to white people and divided by the railroad. Plenty Coups left his home in Pryor, Montana to both Apsaalooke and Whites to be used as a park. Above all else Plenty Coups as an advocate for his people and for education. He believed…. Discussed the original Crow Reservation. Discuss Flathead Reservation being alloted as a checkerboard. Seven delegations went back to Washington D.C. to protect their lands and keep the railroads from coming through. While in Washington, DC he visited Mt Vernon and decided to model his home after George Washington’s home and leave it as a park for the people. Read page 131 -132

“Get a white man’s education “Get a white man’s education. Without it you are the white man’s victim – with an education, you are his equal.” “ I would have you cling to the memories of your fathers. I would have you still go up onto the mountain and see visions so that your hearts may be clean and strong.” THINK PAIR SHARE Plenty Coups valued education and because he was wiling to learn the ways of the white man he was able to protect his people and their lands. Plenty Coups encouraged young people to become educated. Today this quote is still important, not just for American Indian students but for all students. Personal example…. THINK PAIR SHARE The second part of Plenty Coups message told his people that even though you need a white man’s education don’t lose the education and traditions of our people. This is important in today’s world too. The mind is important, but keeping a hold of traditions that make you a well rounded person is critical. Personal Example. So over the next couple days you all are going to be reading a chapter in this book that talks about one of Plenty Coups Vision Quests THINK PAIR SHARE. I will be back in a few days to help you through a chapter that explains what this Vision meant and how it impacted the life of Plenty Coups and all of the Apsaalooke Nation.