Research

Vision Quests

Vision Quests for the Crow Indian Tribe were very spiritually personal for the person taking it, but  there where also plus sides for the tribe. There were many reasons why a person would go on a vision quest. Obtaining their guardian spirit power was one reason they went. Another reason some people went was it was a ceremonial tradition.Plenty- Coups went on many spirit quests in his lifetime, his first one at age ten.#He went out into the wilderness with no food, water, or rest in order to receive a vision from a spirit. eventually He received a vision that helped him shape his and his tribes futures #.  Many things happened on a spirit quest to a person that was lucky enough to get a visit from a spirit. first of all, in order to get the vision, they would have to go days without sleep, food, water, or a fire. Sometimes an individual would self harm themselves to “increase susceptibility” to a guardian spirit.# When he/she would receive an appearance from the guardian spirit, they would be led to another world where he would be introduced to the supernatural spirit forces. After that, he/she would usually receive his power from a bear, eagle, or bison. Plenty-coups said, “he pointed,and from the peak of the Crazy mountains i saw a buffalo-bull standing where we are sitting now. i got up and started to go to the bull, because he was the person who wanted me.” Linderman was talking about Plenty-coups vision and his experience with the spirit quest. Vision quests of the Crow indian tribe were very spiritual and often a personal experience.
By McKenna

Spirituality (or that word I can not say)

The Native Americans depended on one thing always which was their spirituality. The Male Native Americans went through vision quests and one of the most popular and well known is Plenty Coups’ vision quest. Vision quests are is the practice of praying to obtain a spirit power. The quest was performed with males and the men were sent to a isolated place where they would encounter a guardian spirit. For four days and nights the adolescents males would go without food water and fire and their bodies longing for the spirits. The spirits were called little persons or guardians. In the quest the men would see supernatural spiritual forces. They would receive their powers from three different types of animals an eagle or a bear or even a bison. Some of the most common places and where archaeologists found remnants of the vision quest is the Pryor Mountains.# # One of the most famous visions quest is Plenty Coups’ his vision quest occurred in the Crazy Mountains. When Plenty Coups was 10 years old he headed up to Crazy Mountains with nothing but him. It was midnight and he heard a voice then saw a person not just any person but the spirit his elders talked about. The person was gone but then he saw a buffalo bull standing right in front of him. The bull then turned into a man in a buffalo robe. “Come” The man said directing Plenty Coups to follow him. The shaking of the mans rattle lead Plenty Coups to a knoll and made him sit. “Look” the man pointed outward. There was a hole in the ground, where the buffalo came out of the hole, but as soon as all the buffalo were out of the hole they disappeared all of them were gone. Not one was in sight on the whole Plains. The mans rattle was shaken again and he yelled “Look!” Again Plenty Coup looked at the hole in the ground and more bulls and cows and calves poured out of the hole, but they were different. The unknown type of buffalo had spots ate grass and laid differently than any ordinary buffalo. Just like the buffalo before they disappeared back into the hole in the ground. “Do you understand this which I have shown you, Plenty Coups? The man asked him. Plenty Coups was confused so he replied with a quick no. The two men traveled through the hole in the ground they reached an house. At the house there was an old man dozing away. The man talked to Plenty Coup asking him if he knew this old man if he recognized him. The reason why he asked Plenty Coup is because that old man was him. The old man with the house was Plenty Coup in the future. The house then disappeared with the other two men. The trees around Plenty blew down except one. The man then came back and explained to him why this one tree was still standing. It was the home of a Chickadee bird. # The spirituality of the Native Americans is what made their lifestyle different from everyone elses they put religion first its what made Chiefs such as Plenty Coups.
by Kacyee

Vision Quest

Young adults of Indian tribes went on spirit quests and had dreams that were prophetic, or predicted the future, such as Plenty-coup’s dream. During the ten year old’s dream, Plenty-coup was led to a hole in the earth. After arriving at the top of the hole, buffalo streamed out of the earth, but they charged in all directions. Plenty-coup saw the buffalo fade away. Something else came from the hole, though. Like the buffalo, another creature came from the hole. It was countless cattle.# As seen in the dream, the buffalo would disappear do to them being slaughtered, and white men would replace the land with their cattle. Later on in Plenty-coup’s dream, he had seen his future. The spirit who was leading Plenty-coup through his dream stopped at a house. A feeble old man had been sitting in the shade. “Do you know him, Plenty-coup?” the spirit inquired the boy. Of course Plenty-coup had responded with a “no.” Once he replied, the spirit continued, “This old man is yourself.”# It is true that Plenty-coup had grown to be very old. As the old man he had seen in his vision, Plenty-coup lived on the land he saw himself on. At the end of his dream, Plenty-Coup saw epic destruction showing the future of the tribes of Montana. A mighty forest was before him when the winds came, forcing chaos onto the trees. In the end, one lone tree held firm, a chickadee perched on one of the branches.# The trees of the forest were symbolizing the other tribes, and if they fought the invaders to come, they would fall. Still standing, the lone tree represented Plenty-coup’s tribe, the Crow, and if they befriended the invaders, they would keep their land. Not every dream is a prophetic one, yet Plenty-coup’s dream had been; it may have even saved the Crows.
by Brenna

Research Paper

Plenty Coup’s future: Shaped by vision

Jaylyn Massie

Plenty Coup’s Vision shaped his future, and his tribe’s also. because of his vision, Plenty-Coup’s future was predicted, and his life story came to no surprise. As told in his vision, Plenty Coup would have no children. Although Plenty Coup tried, the two children he had died at birth. When Plenty Coup was having his vision, the spirit-man showed him who he was going to be when he was older. he brought Plenty Coup to an old tree and pointed for Plenty Coup to look. there, underneath the tree, with a head dress sitting on his head, sat Plenty Coup. in this hallucination, Plenty Coup was very old and it was obvious that the old man was a chief. Sure enough, Plenty Coup grew up to be a chief, and lived to an old age. having that vision meant gaining spirit power.#In addition, Plenty Coup’s vision helped his tribe a ton and maybe even saved their lives. His vision taught them not to fight the white men, but to be friends with them. When Plenty Coup was telling his vision to the elders, one of the old men said, “the tribes who have fought the white man have all been beaten, wiped out. by listening as the chickadee listens, we may escape this and keep our lands.”# he was able to tell this by Plenty Coup’s dream. As was guessed, the Crow tribe did get to keep their lands when the whites came and formed a friendship with the whites, agreeing to be their allies. not only did Plenty Coup’s vision shape his future, but his tribe’s as well.        

comma story thingy

As the hunters of the Sioux Indian tribe scourer the land for food, they come across a heard of buffalo. Since the buffalo were near a river, the Indians could easily go in for the kill. The Sioux Indians close behind the buffalo, yet one spooked and they had all scattered, making it harder for them. The buffalo stampead he ground but the Sioux are closing in fast. The Sioux closed in, as they separated one buffalo from the heard. Hooves beating and hearts thumping. A Sioux pulls his bow back, as the arrow launches into the air, piercing the hide of the buffalo. Falling to the ground, the hunt is over.
                    BY WILLIS!!:)

comma story thing

The war chief searched for he plains buffalo, while the winter inched closer and he need for food grew stronger. As his tribe followed, the search became more difficult. As soon as a buffalo was seen, it was killed and put on the back of here horses. While he buffalo were grazing cross the river, the furry well fed animals were easy to see, and the tribe lingered behind them. Although the buffalo were fierce, they could but beat the Indians, and it would be a good fight. Their hooves dug into the soil, and the buffalo frantically tried to run away. The tribal hunters speared every buffalo hey could, but they were large creatures, hard to catch as well. One after the other, buffalo plopped to the ground. Te earth shook. Hunters did not mind, as they were used to it.
                   By: Mckenna(:
 

I LOVE U!~~Madi

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