KEYWORDS: Chief Plenty Coups, Montana State Park, Crow Tribe, Crow Leaders, War Chief, Indian Museums, Sacred Medicine Bundle, Bundles, Indian Memorial, Peace Park, Chief Plenty Coups, Chief Plenty Coups, Chief Plenty Coups
In a poignant declaration echoing through the annals of time, Chief Plenty Coups, revered as the "Chief of Chiefs" among his people, once proclaimed, "Today, I who have been called Chief of Chiefs, among red men, present to all the children of our Great White Father this land where the snows of many winters have fallen on my tepee. This park is not to be a memorial to me, but to the Crow Nation. It is given as a token of my friendship for all people, both red and white." This powerful statement, delivered on August 8, 1928, marked the inception of his vision: to dedicate his ancestral land south of Billings as a sanctuary of peace and cultural preservation.
Today, the spirit of Chief Plenty Coups would undoubtedly swell with pride as his cherished home and farmstead flourish, a testament to his enduring legacy. After enduring decades of neglect, the land that the last traditional Crow leader envisioned as a peace park has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as a beacon of cultural heritage and intertribal harmony, according to historians and tribal members.
The centerpiece of this revitalization is the meticulously restored log house of the esteemed chief, a project completed in the late 1990s. Furthermore, the museum, which houses a collection of his personal belongings and some of the most sacred treasures of the Crow tribe, has undergone a comprehensive renovation, including the installation of a state-of-the-art fire suppression system.
On Saturday, August 30, 2003, a grand celebration was held to commemorate the park’s 75th anniversary and to honor the extraordinary legacy of Chief Plenty Coups. This momentous occasion also served as an opportunity to showcase the newly revamped museum, which features captivating displays and interactive "story sticks" that preserve the oral histories of tribal elders.
Elias Goes Ahead, a historian and great-grand nephew of the childless chief, expressed his profound sentiment, stating, "Plenty Coups’ dream is becoming reality. This is his vision. It’s long overdue." He further emphasized that the state park has evolved into a living embodiment of the chief’s vision: a place where two distinct cultures converge in harmony. While the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks manages the park, many of the recent improvements have been guided by the invaluable recommendations of Crow tribal elders.
Chief Plenty Coups, a visionary leader, guided the Crow tribe through a period of profound transition, from a nomadic existence to a settled life on a reservation. A staunch advocate for peace, he firmly believed that the tribe could thrive in the modern world through embracing farming and education.
Rich Furber, the park manager, elucidated that Chief Plenty Coups gifted his estate to the American people in 1928, inspired by his visit to George Washington’s plantation in Virginia. Among the renowned Plains Indian chiefs of the buffalo era – Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Red Cloud – only Plenty Coups possessed a permanent home that he could bequeath as a legacy.
However, a legal obstacle arose. The federal government initially declined to accept lands previously designated for American Indians, as explained by Furber.
Following the chief’s passing in 1932, his 190 acres of creek bottom and rolling hills were entrusted to the care of Bighorn County. The land subsequently changed hands several times throughout the 1950s and 1960s, eventually falling under the trusteeship of the state. Regrettably, during these decades, the land suffered from neglect. The sacred spring was desecrated by pigs, and cattle grazed upon his final resting place.
In response to the threat of legal action, the state took remedial measures, constructing a museum and visitors center in the early 1970s. Nevertheless, many considered these facilities inadequate and underfunded. Subsequent political and legal pressure ultimately led to the recent enhancements.
The Chief Plenty Coups Day of Honor was celebrated at Plenty Coups State Park in Pryor. The park was rededicated, and a diverse array of activities were planned throughout the day.
The festivities commenced at 1 p.m., featuring a captivating reenactment of the Pryor Creek Battle. A traditional buffalo feast was also on the agenda, and artists from across the reservation and region showcased their artistic creations.
Guided tours of Chief Plenty Coups’ house were offered, and cultural and historical experts delivered insightful speeches.
Tim Bernardis, vice-chairman of the Friends of Chief Plenty Coups, underscored that the day’s events were designed to fulfill the chief’s enduring legacy of fostering peaceful coexistence between Indians and non-Indians.
Bernardis remarked, "There just aren’t many venues like this where you get Indians and whites together. It’s a symbol of what could be with improved relations between Crow and non-Indians."
The state allocated approximately $600,000 this year to install a fire sprinkler system, renovate the displays, improve the facility’s climate control, and enhance building safety features. John and Nancy Hanna, of Cheyenne, Wyo., were commissioned to assist in refurbishing the displays.
The small, circular museum has been revitalized with brighter lighting and an open interior. New displays have been added, including an interactive electronic map of Crow Country. While Chief Plenty Coups’ life story is prominently featured, the museum also serves as a tribute to the entire Crow tribe. It houses objects of everyday life, such as cherry crushers and hide scrapers, as well as sacred medicine bundles and traditional Crow dolls.
However, many of the most prized artifacts remain carefully stored in the museum’s fireproof basement vault.
Among the most sacred items are the medicine bundles, which often contain organic materials such as plants and animal parts. Animal guides of vision seekers are often represented in the bundles by pieces of the actual animal. For instance, Chief Plenty Coups’ war bundle contained the hind legs of his spiritual guide, the chickadee.
Furber explained that Chief Plenty Coups would remove the legs and tie them in his hair before battle.
Another bundle belonged to Chief Longhair, who bequeathed his medicine to the Crow people to be used only in times of national emergency, according to Furber.
Furber emphasized that preserving these objects intact and spiritually viable is a significant challenge. Meticulous plans were developed in consultation with tribal elders.
Furber stated, "Medicine bundles, in the Crow culture, are live, powerful things. We don’t do anything with that collection until we confer with Crow elders."
Traditionally, the bundles were stored in trees or tepees, exposed to the harsh elements of the Great Plains. In a museum vault, the bundles are susceptible to rot. To replicate the natural conditions, each bundle is placed in a freezer every two years for two days, thawed for two days, and then frozen again for two days.
Each of the 41 bundles is loosely wrapped in waterproof, protective paper and placed on a shelf at room temperature in the vault. The shelves are covered by a white curtain and are not to be photographed or viewed by women.
Furber, a former state game warden who was adopted into a Crow family, explained, "This sounds a little hokey if you’re a nonbeliever, but it makes those bundles comfortable. Our main objective here is to take care of the Crow collection and do that with respect."
Although many of the artifacts remain inaccessible to visitors, the state park and museum offer a wealth of intriguing exhibits, according to Bernadette Smith, a Crow tribal member who works at the park. While Plenty Coups Park may not be as widely known as Mount Vernon, many visitors express their astonishment after touring the site, she said.
Smith stated, "I don’t know if you could ever do justice to Plenty Coups’ legacy. But would he be proud? Yes. I think he would just really love it, the museum as it is today."
Despite the park’s improvements, it continues to face challenges in attracting visitors. Approximately 15,000 people visit each year, compared to the 400,000-plus visitors who flock to the Little Bighorn National Battlefield, located 40 miles to the east. Tim Bernardis, vice-chairman of the Friends of Chief Plenty Coups, a nonprofit advocacy group, noted that the poor quality of roads leading to Pryor, which is about 40 miles south of Billings, has contributed to this disparity.
Bernardis expressed optimism that major road improvements currently underway between Pryor and Billings could help boost visitation. There is also discussion of paving the gravel road between Pryor and Edgar, which would provide a convenient loop for tourists traveling from Billings to Red Lodge or Cody.
Bernardis, who resides near Hardin, stated, "We hope at this point the park can really start to take off. Now, the trick is to draw the visitors and get the message out."
Chief Plenty Coups: His vision endures, inspiring generations to embrace peace, cultural preservation, and the harmonious coexistence of all people. The legacy of Chief Plenty Coups is more than a historical footnote; it is a living testament to the power of leadership, vision, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.