News Release

Bighorn Canyon Ranger to Present Program on the Life and Times of Chief Plenty Coups

Portrait of Chief Plenty Coups (c1908)

Edward Curtis from the Library of Congress

News Release Date: May 14, 2019

Contact: Todd Johnson, 307-548-5406

On May 16, 2019 Park Ranger Todd Johnson from the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area will be giving a multi-media talk entitled “Chief Plenty Coups: A Visionary Leader of the Crow People.” The presentation, which is part of the Powell Valley Community Education program, will start at 6:30 PM at the Fagerberg Building, Room 70 at the Northwest Community College.

The program will be an in-depth examination of the life of Chief Plenty Coups, with a special focus on his leadership of the Crow Tribe. Plenty Coups, a tireless advocate and diplomat for his people, is best known for his roles in protecting Crow lands from homesteaders, as well as mentoring a new generation of leaders like Robert Yellowtail.   

“His ability as a leader to adapt to the radically changing social dynamics in the late 1800s enabled the Crow Tribe to make the transition from the "buffalo days" to settlement on the reservation,” said Johnson. “It is a perfect example of servant leadership and how one person’s actions can make significant differences in the lives of many.”

For additional information about this program go to the Powell Valley Community Education website at https://nwc.edu/pvce/ or contact Christy Fleming, Chief of Interpretation at Bighorn Canyon, at 307-548-5402.